The O2I – Open To Innovate Living Lab and the University of Ferrara, through the team of Professor Massimiliano Mazzanti, Asia Guerreschi, and Alessandro Montanaro, are central to the following analysis. The O2I Living Lab, a collaborative space created by Clust-ER Innovate and the University of Ferrara, is dedicated to fostering “foresight” and “intelligence” to inform regional industrial strategies. The research findings analyzed in this article were derived from the studies conducted as part of the GRINS – PNRR project.
Artificial Intelligence is a “general-purpose technology” capable of fundamentally altering the genetic makeup of industrial processes. Unlike previous waves of automation, AI does not merely replace tasks; it redesigns decision-making frameworks and value distribution within the firm. Across the European Union, the adoption of these tools has doubled in just one year, signaling a rapid transition that is nonetheless fraught with regional and sectoral disparities.
Within the manufacturing heartland of Emilia-Romagna, the data reveals a “wait-and-see” paradox. Despite a dense ecosystem of high-tech firms and research centers, the region currently shows a slightly negative deviation in effective AI adoption compared to its Northern Italian peers. This gap is largely attributed to the “product-led” culture of traditional manufacturing, where 62% of firms express profound uncertainty regarding the return on investment (ROI) for AI applications. For many, the transition from physical excellence to data-driven optimization represents a cognitive hurdle that current financial incentives alone cannot clear.
In Emilia-Romagna, the challenge for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is less about the cost of technology and more about its perceived utility. A significant portion of regional firms report that they do not yet see AI as relevant to their specific business models. This “cognitive transition” phase is marked by a dual deficit: firms lack both the specialized human capital to implement AI and the internal awareness to even define what skills they need. The O2I Living Lab addresses this by acting as a regional beacon, providing the “intelligence” and “foresight” necessary for SMEs to visualize their place in an AI-driven future.
To bridge this divide, the EXCEED project (Excellence in Green and Digital Manufacturing) focuses on the “human element” of the industrial equation. Recognizing that 20% of medium-sized firms cannot find appropriate candidates for AI roles, EXCEED establishes a European network of Vocational Excellence to cultivate a new generation of “eco-digital” specialists. By aligning vocational training with the “skills foresight” generated by the O2I Living Lab, the project ensures that manufacturing curricula are not reactive, but proactive. This alignment is crucial for Emilia-Romagna, where the lack of internal specialized skills is cited as the most significant barrier to digital maturity.
Furthermore, the EXCEED framework emphasizes the necessity of organizational adaptation. The Ferrara research indicates that 50.5% of current AI users have not yet modified their internal workflows, suggesting that many firms are merely “bolting on” technology rather than integrating it. Through its focus on advanced manufacturing and circular economy principles, EXCEED provides the pedagogical infrastructure needed to help firms move from mere experimentation to structural transformation, ultimately securing the region’s competitive edge in the global Industry 5.0 landscape.
