SEISMEC: Supporting European Industry Success Maximization through Empowerment Centred development

Often, the human element within workplaces is overlooked, side-lining worker well-being and societal values. This results in disempowered workers, eroding job satisfaction and hindering inclusivity. In this context, the SEISMEC project focuses on placing humans at the forefront of workplace technological developments across industrial sectors and shaping a future of work that is both productive and enriching. It does so through evidence-based recommendations, connecting workers, policymakers, and research initiatives. A significant portion of the project focuses on co-designing explainable AI solutions empowering workers in industrial environments. These AI algorithms integrate real-time feedback from workers to improve workplace conditions and outcomes and will be piloted in various real-world industrial contexts. Drawing on 17 pilots spanning the 14 industrial ecosystems defined by the EU and including a cross-sector platform labour pilot, SEISMEC engages industry and workers in a collaborative process. The pilots demonstrate how new technology innovations can be integrated in a diversified way and connecting across European countries and worker roles. An active campaign of cross-sector empowerment practices exchange will allow for a strong engagement with European, national and local stakeholders.

Dr. Jason Pridmore, reflecting upon SEISMEC’s first year of activities: "In our first year, we have started to set some clear directions for how our diverse set of pilots can both implement key solutions that fit their context while also finding ways to mutually learn from each other in the project. Particular challenges of translating all of the topics we want to capture alongside a flexible enough pilot ‘journey’ have proven difficult to easily resolve, however our commitment to doing so together remains unwavering."

Impact

Netherlands level: One of the pilots is a Dutch manufacturer of light electric vehicles, Selana. There will be real-evidence results within the context of manufacturing/mobility in a scale-up environment. 

EU level: the final reports from pilot interventions will be the groundwork for: 1) formulation of a future roadmap for social partners to implement human-centric improvements in industry; 2) deliver material for improving the human-centric content of the AI act; and 3) implement guidelines for human-centric interface redesign.

More info: https://seismec.eu/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/seismec/, https://seismec.eu/2024/11/28/one-year-of-seismec/, SEISMEC video showcasing pilots

Horizon Europe - Global Challenges: Digital, Industry and Space