SEK 111 million to develop advanced automation and robotics

To reinforce Sweden's leading position in smart industry and sustainable production, the Knowledge Foundation has granted SEK 48 million to MDU for research in advanced automation and robotic technology. With additional funding from industrial partners and the University, the entire investment amounts to SEK 111 million over eight years.

The MARC project, led by Thomas Nolte, Professor at the School of Innovation, Design and Engineering at Mälardalen University (MDU), aims to develop the next generation of robotics and automation systems for flexible and resource-efficient manufacturing. Cooperating closely with ABB, Alfa Laval, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy, Skanska and Volvo, the research team will focus on adaptive systems that can improve the efficiency of production lines and increase sustainability in Swedish industry.

According to Thomas Nolte, MARC is a project that will help Sweden maintain its competitiveness and also facilitate the green transition.

“The development of portable, smart and efficient automation solutions are significant steps towards a circular economy. MARC will contribute with new innovative production solutions, which enable on-site automation when it’s needed. This will allow more people to use automation and robots in areas where it is not profitable today. Increased flexibility and adaptability means that robotic systems can be reused in different applications and for different customers.”

There are several technical challenges that MDU's project will try to solve together with industry. Thomas Nolte says it is partly about enabling rapid transitions in production to achieve circular production. On the one hand, there is a need to improve human-machine interactions and on the other hand, we need to create better conditions for advanced control of distributed robotic systems.

"The objective is flexible and robust robotic technology for the manufacturing industry of the future."

More information

The Mälardalen University Automation Research Centre (MARC) project is being financed over eight years as part of the Knowledge Foundation’s (KK-stiftelsen) 's Research Profiles programme. The initiative is supported by 26 people, including 6 new doctoral students and 5 new Postdocs. In addition to the funds from the Foundation, Mälardalen University itself is contributing SEK 23 million and the participating companies with at least SEK 40 million.

The following companies will participate in the research project: ABB, Alfa Laval Technologies, Ericsson, Hitachi Energy Sweden, Skanska Sverige and Volvo Construction Equipment

Research Profiles is a strategic programme that supports the profiling of higher education institutions and research areas. It is aimed at research and education environments that are very advanced in their development and have clear ambitions for the future. The programme requires that University management and the research area concerned select a defined research domain where there is potential for international positioning and scientific impact.