The Industry Forum at EFTA 2025 brings together global voices from industry, startups, and research to explore the future of industrial and factory automation. Through focused sessions, expert panels, and networking opportunities, the forum fosters real-world solutions and next-generation ideas. The program features three sessions, including a plenary keynote that follows the conference opening ceremony.
You can register for the full conference or attend just the Industry Forum at a reduced fee, making it easier to participate in this focused event. See the Registration page.

News on the Industry Forum:

From Challenge to Solution: Startups Driving Innovation at ETFA 2025

Reskilling Through Entrepreneurship: Some IES initiatives for Future-Ready Talents

Chairs: Bruno Iafelice, TVLP Institute, USA, Gil Goncalves, University of Porto, Portugal

Time: Tuesday, September 9 (13:30)

This session brings together key industry stakeholders and innovative startups to tackle real-world challenges. Startups from Portugal Ventures and UPTEC will pitch forward-thinking solutions to challenges brought by industry partners from PRODUTECH and EIT Manufacturing.
The format encourages direct collaboration between industry and startups, creating win-win outcomes: startups gain validation, access to infrastructure, and visibility; and industry partners accelerate innovation and address critical needs with fresh approaches.

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Part 1 (13:30-15:00): Industry challenges and pain points

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Part 2 (15:30-17:30): Innovative startup companies pitch transformative solutions

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Part 3 (17:30-18:30): Networking

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Moderators: Bruno Iafelice, TVLP Institute, USA, Gil Goncalves, University of Porto, Portugal

Time: Wednesday, September 10 (11:00)

Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors share perspectives on frontier technologies covering intelligent robotics, edge computing, AI integration, and more.

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Speakers:

Moderators: Bruno Iafelice, TVLP Institute, USA, Gil Goncalves, University of Porto, Portugal

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Time: Wednesday, September 10 (11:00)

This session focuses on the adoption of the IEC 61499 standard for distributed industrial control systems. Industrial practitioners and experts will share implementation experiences, benefits, and practical roadmaps for organizations seeking to adopt this next-generation standard. Ideal for technical leaders, engineers, and decision-makers planning modernization strategies.

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First Panel: IEC 61499 in Practice: Experience Exchange about Implementing the Technology

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Moderators: Šejla Trakić, UniversalAutomation.org

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Second Panel: Infrastructural control architecture: Bridging OT and IT through Open Standards, Modular Hardware, and IEC 61499-Enabled Control

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Moderators: Franco Cavadini, Gr3n

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The Industry Forum is not just for industry professionals—it’s a unique opportunity for researchers, educators, and students to engage with real-world challenges, connect with startups and industry leaders, and explore how cutting-edge technologies are shaping the future of industrial automation.

The forum goes beyond presentations. It offers:

Access to cutting-edge innovations and breakthrough ideas

Direct networking opportunities with speakers, startups, and executives

Interactive discussions to dive deeper into key topics

A platform for cross-sector collaboration and partnerships

Follow speaker highlights, session updates, and related content via our channels. Use #IndustryForum2025 to join the conversation online.