SMARTFACT: Emerging Technologies for Smart Factories
Duration: 1 July 2026–30 June 2029 (36 months)
Project acronym: SMARTFACT
Project leader at Rudolfovo: Dr Vesna Pungerčar
Total project value: EUR 14.691.133,33
Funding allocated to Rudolfovo: EUR 403,750
Total co-financing for the operation: EUR 8,832,720
The project consortium comprises the Jožef Stefan Institute as the lead partner, together with the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering (UL FE), Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (UL FS) and Faculty of Computer and Information Science (UL FRI), the University of Maribor’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (UM FERI), Rudolfovo, TECOS, Yaskawa, Metronik, Gorenje, SICK, INEA, Adria Mobil, Rettro, Fotona, Elvez and Keko Equipment.
Funding: The programme is co-financed under the JR RR PROGRAMI (TRL 3–6) public call.
Project description
SMARTFACT is a research and development programme focused on developing advanced technologies for the smart factories of the future. It brings together research organisations, system integrators and industrial companies to develop solutions for more efficient, flexible and sustainable manufacturing. The research topics were developed in close cooperation between research organisations and partner companies, ensuring that they address specific industry needs and offer opportunities for transferring the developed solutions to the market.
The programme integrates four key areas: artificial intelligence-based process control, AI-powered robotics of the future, laser processing for electronics and plasma-processing technologies.
Methodological approach
The programme combines industrial research at TRL 3–4 with experimental development at TRL 5–6. Research findings will gradually be developed into prototypes and demonstration solutions and tested in both laboratory and real-world industrial environments. This approach directly connects research expertise with the needs of manufacturing companies and accelerates the transfer of results into practice.
Rudolfovo will contribute its expertise in computer vision, multisensor data fusion, artificial intelligence and robotics, as well as its research infrastructure for developing, testing and validating solutions.
Key objectives and results
The programme aims to develop technologies for smarter, more flexible and more efficient manufacturing through artificial intelligence, process control, robotics, and laser and plasma technologies. Its outputs will include new methods, algorithms and industrially validated prototypes for process monitoring, optimisation and automation, quality control, and more efficient use of energy and materials.
Rudolfovo will focus primarily on developing an AI-based automated quality inspection system. In cooperation with Adria Mobil, it will develop a quality-control solution for motorhome manufacturing that combines cameras and other sensors, a robotic system and artificial intelligence models. The system will enable quality inspections at individual stages of the window-frame sealing process. The developed solution will ultimately be integrated into a demonstration system and tested in an industrial environment.
Societal and regional impact
By connecting research organisations with Slovenian technology and manufacturing companies, SMARTFACT will contribute to the digital and technological transformation of Slovenian industry, higher productivity and manufacturing quality, and the development of new high-tech solutions.
Rudolfovo’s participation is also important from a regional perspective, as it facilitates the transfer of research knowledge to industry and strengthens development cooperation with industrial partners, including Novo mesto-based Adria Mobil. The project therefore supports Rudolfovo’s role in developing a high-tech research and innovation environment in south-eastern Slovenia and in connecting researchers and companies to develop solutions with direct industrial applications. It explicitly links Rudolfovo’s mission with technological development, Industry 4.0, digital transformation, and cooperation with companies and educational institutions.
