Inclu5ion

Despite the strong societal efforts for the reduction of human physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, people with disabilities continue to deal with daily discrimination and limited accessibility in physical and virtual environments. These injustices prevent their full participation in society. In that regard, new methodologies for disability inclusiveness can be very effective, especially from the occupational point of view. Emerging and enabling technologies can provide enormous benefits and support in terms of inclusivity and equality in industrial contexts. Industry 5.0 added sustainable concepts to the industrial revolution. It introduces a new paradigm of production: Human-centricity and resilience are promoted over efficiency and productivity. This allows the customization of the jobs according to the worker’s (special) needs and wants. Manufacturing systems can be therefore adapted to suit the needs and diversity of people by implementing an inclusive approach and opening new opportunities for both people with disabilities and companies. The proposed project aims at reducing the impairments of people with physical or cognitive disabilities in industrial or artisanal working contexts by assisting them with anthropocentric and emerging Industry 5.0 technologies. By adopting a sociotechnical perspective, the main goal is to support non-expert technical designers by developing a new design methodology to be used for the creation of “disability-friendly”, human-centered, and technology-supported industrial workplaces. Outcomes will enhance the implementation of even more socially sustainable and disability-inclusive workplaces, where Industry 5.0 technologies are used to assist people by adding even more value to the human.

 

Project details

Project name: Inclu5ion [CUP: F53C23000850003]

Funding programme: Research Südtirol/Alto Adige

Budget: € 392.987,35 (total), € 210.658,68 (Fraunhofer Italia)

Project partners: Fraunhofer Italia (Lead partner - Prof. Dominik Matt, Principal Investigator , M.Sc. Isabella Soraruf, Project Manager , M.Sc. Leonardo Venturoso, Team member, Ph.D. Marco Todescato, Team member), Libera Università di Bolzano (Prof. Erwin Rauch, Principal Investigator , Ph.D. Luca Gualtieri, Project Manager, Prof. Patrick Dallasega, Team member, Ph.D. Carlo Caizzo, Team member)

Duration: 01.06.24 – ongoing