Industrial Engineering in Europe - Conferences, EU Policy, and Funding in 2025 and 2026
Author
Paddy McDonnell
Date Published
European industrial engineering is in a period of rapid transformation, driven by the convergence of sustainability requirements, digital technologies, and new EU policy frameworks. For IIESMS members working in industrial engineering, the European landscape offers both professional development opportunities through major conferences and practical implications through new legislation that will directly affect Irish manufacturing and engineering enterprises. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant European industrial engineering events and policy developments in 2025 and 2026.
74th CIRP General Assembly - Stockholm, August 2025
The International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP) held its 74th General Assembly from 17-23 August 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden, hosted by KTH Royal Institute of Technology. CIRP is the premier international body for production engineering research, and the General Assembly is its flagship annual event, gathering approximately 700 production engineering experts from academia and industry worldwide.
The programme featured keynote presentations, scientific paper sessions, collaborative working group discussions, and technical committee meetings across ten production engineering areas. Stockholm hosted the General Assembly for only the third time in the institution's history, following editions in 1957 and 1972.
For Irish industrial engineers, CIRP provides access to the international research frontier in areas including smart manufacturing, sustainable production, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing processes. The General Assembly is a high-value CPD opportunity for senior practitioners and researchers.
58th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems - Enschede, April 2025
The 58th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems (CMS 2025) was held in April 2025 at the University of Twente in Enschede, the Netherlands, under the theme Next Generation Manufacturing Systems. The conference brought together researchers and industry specialists to exchange ideas and disseminate cutting-edge research on the future of manufacturing systems, including digital twins, smart factories, and next-generation production approaches.
20th CIRP Conference on Intelligent Computation in Manufacturing Engineering - Naples, July 2026
The 20th CIRP Conference on Intelligent Computation in Manufacturing Engineering (CIRP ICME '26) is scheduled for 8-10 July 2026 at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy. The conference theme is Artificial Intelligence Based Methods for Production Technologies and Systems.
The programme covers AI and machine learning methodologies for manufacturing decision-making, including expert systems, fuzzy logic, neural networks, evolutionary algorithms, and swarm intelligence. Sessions include the Horizon Europe BioMeld project on biological transformation in manufacturing and the Fraunhofer International Center for Networked, Adaptive Production.
This conference is particularly relevant for Irish industrial engineers working in the pharma, medtech, and technology manufacturing sectors, which are increasingly adopting AI-driven production methods. Ireland's position as a European hub for advanced manufacturing makes AI in production a strategically important area of professional knowledge.
ILSSI International Lean Six Sigma Conferences - 2025 and 2026
The International Lean Six Sigma Institute (ILSSI) held its 2025 conference from 28-30 April 2025 at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel in St Helier, Jersey. The programme featured two days of international keynote speakers and workshops covering continuous improvement, service and product quality, operational performance optimisation, and process-centred technological innovation.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for 8-10 September 2026 at the Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. The theme is Lean Six Sigma within Changing Technologies and Work Cultures, with keynotes and workshops on AI in operational excellence, progressive management, and process-centred innovation. A plant tour at Volkswagen Slovakia's Bratislava facility is included on Day 3, offering practical benchmarking for manufacturing professionals.
Lean Six Sigma is widely adopted across Irish manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. These conferences provide structured CPD and access to the international Lean Six Sigma community. IIESMS members can record attendance towards their 25-hour annual CPD requirement.
The EU Clean Industrial Deal
Published on 26 February 2025, the European Commission's Clean Industrial Deal outlines concrete actions to turn decarbonisation into a driver of growth for European industries. The deal focuses on energy-intensive industries including steel, metals, and chemicals, as well as clean technology sectors.
Key commitments include:
Mobilisation of over EUR 150 billion, including EUR 100 billion in direct funding through a new Industrial Decarbonisation Bank
Actions to lower industrial energy bills across the EU
Measures to boost demand for clean products through public procurement and product standards
Clean trade partnerships with international partners
An Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act to streamline permitting and regulatory processes
For Irish industrial enterprises, the Clean Industrial Deal creates both obligations and opportunities. EU-wide procurement standards will change, creating demand for professionals who understand clean manufacturing processes and carbon accounting. The funding available through the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank represents a significant resource for Irish manufacturers investing in sustainable production.
The EU Industrial Accelerator Act
Published on 4 March 2026, the European Commission's Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) introduces mandatory requirements across public procurement and public support schemes in strategic sectors. Key provisions include:
Made in EU requirements with origin-based restrictions across strategic sectors
Minimum 20% low-carbon steel in public procurement contracts
Minimum quotas for low-carbon aluminium and cement in public works
Target to raise manufacturing to 20% of EU GDP by 2035
Requirements for 50% minimum European employment levels in supported enterprises
Simplified single-digital permitting processes for industrial projects
Irish industrial engineers and manufacturing managers need to understand these requirements, particularly the low-carbon material thresholds that will affect public procurement. Engineering consultants advising on public infrastructure projects must factor these obligations into their specifications and procurement advice.
Industry 5.0 - The EU Framework for Human-Centric Manufacturing
The European Commission's Industry 5.0 Community of Practice (CoP 5.0) published its final report in October 2024, with an accompanying 2025 Work Plan. Over 100 stakeholders from across Europe contributed to two key deliverables: Industry 5.0 as a Transformative Agenda for Industrial Research and Innovation and a Prototype Industry 5.0 Learning and Assessment Tool.
Industry 5.0 builds on the digital and automation advances of Industry 4.0 but adds three core principles: human-centricity (technology serving people rather than replacing them), sustainability (circular approaches and resource efficiency), and resilience (the ability to adapt to disruptions). The assessment tool published by the CoP allows enterprises to benchmark their readiness for the Industry 5.0 transition.
An ERA Industrial Technologies Roadmap on Human-Centric Research and Innovation has also been published, setting out the research priorities for making European industry more human-centric. For Irish industrial engineers, Industry 5.0 provides a strategic framework that goes beyond pure efficiency to address the social and environmental responsibilities of manufacturing.
European Innovation Council 2026 - EUR 1.4 Billion for Deep Tech
The European Innovation Council (EIC) 2026 Work Programme, adopted in November 2025, makes EUR 1.4 billion available for deep tech innovation across Europe. The funding is structured across several instruments:
EIC Pathfinder: EUR 262 million for visionary research exploring bold new ideas
EIC Transition: EUR 100 million for transforming research results into innovation opportunities
Advanced Innovation Challenges: EUR 6 million for high-risk demand-driven deep tech
EIC Accelerator: EUR 634 million for start-ups and SMEs developing deep tech with high impact potential
STEP Scale Up: EUR 300 million in equity funding for deep tech scaling
The 2026 programme includes a simplified application process, with full proposals reduced from 50 to 20 pages. Ireland's strong deep tech and manufacturing innovation ecosystem positions Irish enterprises well to access these funds. Industrial engineers involved in R&D and innovation management should be aware of the EIC as a potential funding source for projects that combine technological innovation with industrial application.
Relevance for IIESMS Members
The IIESMS Industrial Engineering Sector Group represents professionals working across the full range of industrial engineering disciplines, from production management and process optimisation to supply chain engineering and sustainable manufacturing. The European developments outlined in this article affect every aspect of industrial engineering practice in Ireland.
IIESMS membership grades relevant to industrial engineering include Industrial Engineer (IndEng.IIESMS) and Certified Industrial Engineer (CIndEng.IIESMS). Both grades are aligned to the National Framework of Qualifications and recognise practitioners who have demonstrated competence through qualifications, experience, and professional review.
To explore which grade matches your qualifications and experience, use the Find Your Grade tool or contact us for guidance.