CONTEXT The EU manufacturing sector accounts for 2 million companies and 33 million jobs; it is the source of 15% of EU GDP and 80% of exports. Digital Manufacturing (i.e. Industry 4.0) is a recent strategy at EU level to support innovation processes (Background Paper on "Digitising European Industry", 30 June 2015, European Commission, DG Connect). Highly qualified labour force remains a key sou ...