About AI-MATTERS
AI-Matters is a European network of testing and experimentation facilities, aiming at increasing the resilience and the flexibility of the European manufacturingsector through the deployment of the latest developments in AI, robotics and intelligent, autonomous systems for flexible production. The project is co-funded by the European Commission and sources at national/regional level.
Meet the Spanish Node: AI Innovation for Industry
This time in our ’Meet the Nodes’ series, we turn to Spain, where the AI-MATTERS node helps manufacturing SMEs accelerate digital and sustainable transformation.
The Spanish Node is coordinated by TECNALIA, together with AIMEN, ITA and AFM, combining strong research expertise with close links to industry.
The node focuses on advanced AI test and experimentation facilities for manufacturing, helping companies modernise production and apply AI to emerging circular-economy processes such as eco-design, resource efficiency, remanufacturing and recycling.
Companies can access a wide range of physical and virtual services, including AI and robotics test benches, data and vision labs, additive manufacturing, advanced simulation and high-performance computing. Strategic investments are planned to further expand and upgrade this infrastructure.
Service in the spotlight: From prompt to robot program, in just minutes!
What if you could describe a task in plain language – and let AI generate the robot code for you?
Thanks to work by the Teknologisk Institut (DTI), this is no longer a future scenario. Within the AI-MATTERS project, it’s already being applied in practice.
By combining generative AI with robot-specific knowledge – such as task descriptions, script manuals and best-practice files – DTI demonstrates how both beginners and experienced users can:
- program robots faster
- reduce errors
- adapt more easily to production changes
- spend more time testing and improving, instead of coding from scratch
In a recent benchmark, success rates increased from 75% to 100%, while programming time was reduced by more than half. The key? Preparing the AI with the right information.
Whether you’re taking your first steps in robotics or dealing with frequent changeovers, this approach delivers tangible value for manufacturing SMEs.
How SMAUT Technology is Transforming Autonomous Mowing with AI-MATTERS
SMAUT Technology, a company collaborating with AI-MATTERS partner Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics at Czech Technical University in Prague (CIIRC CTU), is advancing autonomous mowing solutions by enhancing navigation, obstacle avoidance, and AI-driven route optimization, delivering safer, smarter, and more efficient operations.
Together, they are developing prototypes that can navigate complex terrain and avoid obstacles using advanced sensor data. They’re also testing the entire system for cybersecurity – ensuring it’s resilient and that the data they collect stays protected. One of the most exciting parts? Intelligent route planning. The mowers don’t just follow paths; they learn, adapt, and optimize their behavior in real time. All of this gives SMAUT the confidence to offer their customers even more reliable, secure, and autonomous solutions – ready for the real world!
Getting started with vision systems within AI-MATTERS: Meldon explores the power of AI to improve processes
Meldon is taking a significant step toward smarter and error-free production. Together with Blue Engineering and AI-MATTERS partner Brainport Industries, the company conducted research nto machine vision and AI for plastic extrusion profiles with high visibility requirements.
Stan Erens, COO of Meldon: “During production, small deviations sometimes occur that we only notice afterwards. This results in rejects. With a 2D line scan camera and a self-learning AI model, Anomaly Detect, we can now recognize deviations immediately. The system learns what a good product is and automatically detects anything that deviates from it. This allows us to collect valuable data and improve our processes step by step.”
The result? A clear picture of the technology that suits Meldon and new opportunities to further improve its quality.
AI service: recognision, sorting and packaging of products
At AI-MATTERS, we are working toward a future in which artificial intelligence and digitalization create real value for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing companies.
In this video, we explain how AI-MATTERS helps companies to:
- make faster and better decisions
- digitalize processes without complex implementations
- increase productivity with smart, data-driven solutions
- quickly experiment and learn in a realistic digital factory simulation
Whether you’re an innovative high mix low volume SME or produce high volumes: with AI-MATTERS you can discover how AI can truly strengthen your production environment.
AI-MATTERS Progress Update: Driving AI Innovation in European Manufacturing
Since our launch at AI-MATTERS, we have been working to strengthen Europe’s position in AI for manufacturing. With a robust network of Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), we are now entering a new phase, focusing on real-world AI deployment, SME engagement, and cross-border collaboration.
From test environments to trustworthy AI practices, this progress update outlines how AI-MATTERS is shaping the future of innovation in industrial Europe.
Read our full update and discover what’s next in the article below.h new digital strategies, or boost sustainability, AI-MATTERS can help you explore what’s possible.
How AI-MATTERS works
AI-MATTERS helps technology providers and manufacturing companies collaborate on real-world experiments with AI and robotics. By offering access to test facilities, data, and expert support, it enables tech developers to validate and mature their solutions in realistic production settings, while allowing manufacturers to explore the potential of AI for their specific challenges without upfront investment. AI-MATTERS focuses on startups, scale-ups, and SMEs—though larger companies can also join—and aims to boost the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector by accelerating the deployment of intelligent, autonomous systems. If you would like to know how AI-MATTERS works and want to know what’s in it for you, head to our ‘how it works’ page, where you can get detailed information on how you can become part of the AI-MATTERS ecosystem.
Get in touch!
Are you interested in one of our services? Do you want to know more on how AI-MATTERS works and what we can do for you? Get in touch with us!
Upcoming events
- March 2-6: 33 BIEMH
- March 10-12: JEC 2026
- March 24-27: European Robotics Forum
- March 26: Zie, Zuid-Hollands Industrie Event
- April 20-24: Hannover Messe
- April 23: Manufacturing Technology Conference
