Altus Attends the International Smart Factory Summit 2024

From June 12 to 14, our president, Ricardo Felizzola, was in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, attending the fifth edition of the International Smart Factory Summit, organized by the Swiss Smart Factory in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the  Swiss CxO Forum (SCF).

The event brought together about 80 participants from more than 15 countries to share new strategies for a flexible, more sustainable, resilient, and human-centered manufacturing industry. Felizzola participated in the Pitching Session panel "Insights from International Initiatives," where he discussed technological innovations and emerging trends with industry leaders.

Altus is proud to be one of the companies integrated into the Swiss Smart Factory, a development lab for future industry solutions. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an important event that seeks to unite innovation and sustainability. Our participation in this kind of event strengthens international relations and highlights our role in promoting an intelligent and sustainable industry.

Learn more about the history of the relationship between Altus and the Swiss Smart Factory and the project with the institute.

The History Behind the Altus and SSF Initiative

The first contact between Altus and the Swiss Smart Factory occurred in 2019 when Felizzola went to Switzerland to participate in the second edition of the International Smart Factory Summit. This event facilitated the first handshake with Dominic Gorecky. The following year, taking advantage of a public notice launched by Innosuisse, the Swiss innovation agency, in partnership with Embrapii, the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Research and Innovation linked to the Ministry of Science, the companies met again.

It proposed technological development partnerships between STIs (Science and Technology Institutes) and Brazilian companies, along with STIs and Swiss companies. Having already established a relationship during the 2019 Summit, Altus and the Swiss Smart Factory joined forces to submit a project and were selected!

On the Swiss side, in addition to the Swiss Smart Factory, which acts as an STI, the companies Cencerus and MyLive Zone also participated in the project. On the Brazilian side, the Instituto Senai de Inovação e Tecnologia was Altus`s STI partner in the project`s development.

About the Project Conducted by the Swiss-Brazilian Collaboration

The project aimed to create an automation device for data analysis and scenario prediction in various industrial environments. "The product is a well-designed project involving artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance for rotating machinery, remote operation in commissioning protocols, and testing intelligent products," explains Felizzola.

For this joint execution to be possible, a remote development methodology will be used in all stages of the innovation process. The resource, created by MyLiveZone, allows engineers and designers in different locations to access the same equipment and develop solutions in a collaborative and totally remote way.

By engaging in this project, shared with Swiss entities with a high innovative index, the company consolidates its position as one of the world`s leading suppliers of technology to the industry.

How Does the Initiative Boost Altus’s Internationalization Strategy?

This effort, unprecedented in the industrial automation scenario, is yet another example of the full strength of Altus brand and the great innovation capacity of the organization`s team of employees! "The initiative will help Altus to fulfill its fundamental objective when starting internationalization, which is to be at the edge of world innovation", highlights Felizzola.

According to the president, one of the internationalization process`s objectives is "to maintain contact with entities from countries that are leaders in innovation." Besides being one of the countries investing the most in research and development, around 3% of GDP, Switzerland also has a high education expenditure, reaching 5.6% of GDP. Such generous investments create an efficient ecosystem of education, research, and innovation, leading the country to top the global innovation ranking.

This structured research process, combined with the creativity and intellectual capital of Brazilian professionals, creates the perfect environment for innovation-promoting enterprises.

Entities That Participated in the Initiative

Innosuisse

Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency. Its mission is to promote scientifically based innovation for applications that improve industry and society, strengthening the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Embrapii

The Brazilian Agency for Industrial Research and Innovation operates through cooperation with public or private scientific and technological research institutions, focusing on business demands and sharing risks in the pre-competitive innovation phase. Its goal is to stimulate the industrial sector to innovate more intensely, enhancing the competitive strength of companies in both the domestic and international markets.

Swiss Smart Factory

The Swiss Smart Factory is Switzerland`s first test and demonstration platform for Industry 4.0. Its vision is to become an internationally recognized center of competence in researching solutions for Industry 4.0. The initiative aims to create a partner ecosystem through which innovations and new technologies for Industry 4.0 can be developed.

SENAI

A long-time partner of Altus, the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Integrated Metalworking Solutions (ISI SIM) is an EMBRAPII-accredited unit that primarily operates in innovation projects and applied research to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the Brazilian industry.

MyLive Zone

Pioneering in the field of industrial remote access in Switzerland, MyLive Zone develops open technology platforms with plug-and-play resources for digitalization and remote control of industrial equipment. The organization leads the global remote training scene for industrial equipment operation.

Cencerus

The company operates in the market of developing E2E software for Industry 4.0, providing innovative solutions for IoT applications. Cencerus was responsible for integrating software during the project`s remote development phases.