AS-Fabrik -Bilbao Alliance for smart specialisation in advanced services towards the digital transformation of the industry

The AS-FABRIK project sought to increase the competitiveness of the advanced services sector of Bilbao (Knowledge Intense Business Services – KIBS) through a collaborative process that would prepare them to supply the digital transformation demands of the manufacturing sector (Industry 4.0).

A strategic alliance with the city, businesses, universities, local service providers and entrepreneurs was set up in order to create a new ecosystem based on innovative pillars and hosted in a tailor-made space for experimentation and incubation of new services. New education programs for university students, entrepreneurs and professionals addressing the new challenges of the industry 4.0 and the digital economy were tested while networking actions, supported by dedicated IT tools, ensured a good match between demand and supply. New business models were prototyped to support specialised start-ups that will benefit from a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) test Fab Lab for the market validation of new products and services.

During its implementation, the UIA project has capitalised on its experience so that it can be shared with peers. The outputs displayed on this page are the result of this process.