News
The CORE news hub
COREbeat Pilot Installation at Viopol
Author: Vasilis Sagiannos
June 5th 2025
We’re excited to announce the successful installation of COREbeat at the production facility of Viopol S.A., a leading manufacturer of polyurethane systems.
This pilot project marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration between CORE Group and Viopol, focused on enhancing asset reliability and operational efficiency through predictive maintenance.
Installation Overview
Last week, our team deployed COREbeat’s beatBox sensors on three critical machines—Fatboy, Tallboy, and IT1—at Viopol’s state-of-the-art production site. These machines, part of the polyurethane Mixing Stations, include three pumps and three electric motors that are essential to Viopol’s daily operations, making them ideal candidates for continuous monitoring and performance analysis.
The sensors are now live, collecting high-frequency vibration and temperature data, which will be analysed in real-time through the COREbeat platform. This data will help the Viopol technical team monitor equipment health, identify potential failure patterns early, and optimize their maintenance planning.
Why it matters
Unplanned downtime and equipment failure are major pain points in manufacturing. By shifting from reactive to predictive maintenance, companies can significantly reduce maintenance costs, improve production uptime, and extend the life of their assets.
Through this pilot, COREbeat will provide Viopol with:
Real-time condition monitoring
Predictive insights based on vibration and temperature data
Monthly performance reports and health scores
Early warnings for emerging mechanical issues
Over the next 10 months, our teams will collaborate closely to refine alerts, assess performance impact, and explore the potential for scaling the solution across other parts of the facility.
A Shared Vision
This initiative reflects both companies’ commitment to data-driven decision making, operational sustainability, and industrial innovation. By leveraging advanced analytics and AI, we aim to empower maintenance teams with the tools they need to prevent failures and operate more efficiently.
We are proud to partner with Viopol on this journey and look forward to the insights and outcomes the pilot will generate.
Optimising Battery Performance and RUL with CE-DSS
Author: Christina Vlassi
June 3rd 2025
Our tech team designed a Decision Support System (DSS) solution that enhances battery usage decision making, paired with an innovative Remaining Useful Life (RUL) estimation module, designed for smarter analysis and long-term optimisation.
We developed the solution as part of the DaCapo project, for end-user Fairphone. DaCapo aims to create human-centric digital tools and services which improve the adoption of Circular Economy (CE) strategies throughout manufacturing value chains and product lifecycles. The project has been ongoing for 2 and a half years and comprises 15 partners across 10 countries with a budget of 5.99 million euros.
Fairphone is a key DaCapo partner, founded in 2013 to address the “make-use-dispose” trend through its focus on modular smartphones that are durable and easy to repair.
How our solution works
Our aim was to develop a DSS that enhances decision-making around battery usage, through its pairing with a RUL estimation module – all of which is accessible to users through a dedicated web app. When users access the app, they get instant access to a battery report preview for all their devices.
From there, the system splits into its two core functionalities: RUL Estimation and Forecasting & Suggestions.
Remaining Useful Life Estimation
In this module, users can see battery capacity loss based on mathematical models that map out capacity degradation over time. These insights reveal how much useful life remains in the battery — giving users a clear view of their device’s condition.
Where the DSS shines is through the provision of personalised guidance. By analysing app usage patterns, the system identifies the impact of each app on battery degradation. Through data analysis, we offer custom recommendations to help users understand and adjust usage patterns that are draining their battery life faster than necessary.
Forecasting & Suggestions
Harnessing the power of machine learning, the system predicts RUL 10 days ahead — tailored specifically to the user’s habits. With these predictions set, the web app goes on to offer actionable tips for longer battery life, with suggestions on the temperature control, charging patterns and usage patterns. When users follow these tips, the RUL of their device is improved, which is reflected visually on the app, showing the tangible benefits of informed action and encouraging sustainability-oriented behaviour.
Towards a Greener Future
By helping users extend the battery life of their devices, our system supports circular economy principles, reducing electronic waste and promoting sustainability. Users are empowered to optimise their battery usage, minimise capacity loss and make smarter, eco-conscious choices – one device at a time.
Multi‑Level Communication and Computation Middleware in MODUL4R
Author: Maria Tassi
May 30th 2025
The MODUL4R project is transforming industrial manufacturing by creating adaptable, resilient, and reconfigurable production systems. The backbone for this transformation is a distributed control framework for modular "Plug & Produce" (PnP) systems, the development of which was successfully completed in April 2025.
CORE IC led these research activities and developed the Multi‑level Communication and Computation Middleware (MCCM) - a fundamental innovation in MODUL4R - that bridges the gap between Cyber‑Physical Systems (CPS) and modular data exchange frameworks, allowing for smooth interoperability across edge, fog, and cloud layers.
The Role of MCCM in Modular Manufacturing
The MCCM was developed to tackle the challenges of modern manufacturing where agility, real‑time decision‑making, and scalability are essential, optimizing industrial operations through dynamic task distribution. By integrating edge, fog, and cloud computing, the MCCM ensures efficient data processing, low latency communication, and dynamic resource allocation. Its architecture is in line with the RAMI 4.0 reference model, supporting Industry 4.0 standards and enabling vendor‑agnostic communication.
Some of the key features of MCCM include:
Hybrid Computing Platform
Edge Layer: Serves as the entry point to the asset layer, ensuring low latency communication and direct interaction with physical systems, enabling real‑time interaction with shopfloor devices.
Fog Layer: Acts as an intermediary for intensive computation, edge orchestration, and near real‑time execution, minimising the latency for critical decision making while reducing cloud dependency.
Cloud Layer: Provides security, scalability, and robustness while enabling external communication with third‑party services.
Dynamic Reconfiguration
Enables real‑time adjustments to workflows, ensuring adaptability to changing production demands.
Supports Infrastructure‑as‑a‑Service (IaaS), allowing third‑party applications to be deployed via containerization (e.g., using Kubernetes).
Service‑Oriented Architecture
Facilitates modular deployment of microservices, ensuring flexibility and scalability.
Uses MQTT, REST APIs or seamless data exchange between layers.
Orchestration Across Layers
The Orchestration Controller offers dynamic service allocation, across different levels, to optimize resource usage across different levels optimizing resource usage.
Enables multi‑cluster management, ensuring efficient workload distribution.
Orchestration within the MODUL4R hybrid computation environment
In more detail, MCCM establishes a service‑oriented, hybrid computation platform designed to orchestrate communication and computation within Cyber‑Physical Systems of Systems (CPSoS) networks. On the shopfloor, data generated by individual CPS components is acquired through industrial communication protocols such as OPC‑UA at the edge layer. This data is then transmitted via MQTT message brokers to corresponding MODUL4R services, where it is processed.
These services, along with the brokers, are typically deployed across the fog and cloud layers, depending on latency requirements and computational needs. MCCM facilitates seamless deployment of services and brokers across the appropriate layers and physical locations, enabling modularity and adaptability. This architecture ensures that each system component can operate on the most suitable computational resource, enhancing efficiency, reducing latency, and supporting scalable system operation.
By enabling dynamic orchestration and real‑time reconfiguration, MCCM provides a flexible infrastructure that supports near real‑time production optimization. The fog layer plays a critical role in enabling low‑latency data processing and rapid decision‑making, essential for responsive manufacturing systems.
Furthermore, MCCM supports third‑party application deployment in an Infrastructure‑as‑a‑Service (IaaS) model using containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes. This approach not only enhances scalability and flexibility but also allows for real‑time system updates and adjustments without production downtime. To maintain system integrity and continuity, MCCM incorporates version control and traceability mechanisms, allowing manufacturers to roll back or update services and algorithms as needed—ensuring both operational stability and adaptability.
Implementation in MODUL4R Use Cases
The MCCM has been successfully deployed across MODUL4R’s pilot cases, demonstrating its versatility and impact:
FFT Use Case: The Quality Check station transmits capacitor inspection data via MQTT to the fog layer, where it is processed and forwarded to the cloud for analytics.
SSF Use Case: A soldering production system uses the MCCM to synchronize data from multiple stations, ensuring real‑time quality monitoring and control.
EMO Use Case: A CNC milling machine streams sensor data through MCCM to the cloud for predictive maintenance analytics.
NECO Use Case: MCCM orchestrates robotic arm coordination and metrology data.
Benefits for the Industry
The MCCM delivers transformative advantages for manufacturers:
Reduced Latency: Fog computing minimizes delays for critical decision‑making.
Scalability: Containerized services allow easy expansion to meet production needs.
Interoperability: Standardized protocols such as MQTT ensure compatibility with legacy and modern systems.
Resilience: Dynamic reconfiguration enhances system robustness against disruptions.
Security: Frameworks and tools such as cloud‑message‑brokers (Kafka, MQTT) and GAIA‑X policies ensure secure data management & distribution, all the way from edge sensors to cloud services
Conclusions
The MCCM delivers transformative advantages for manufacturers, by improving responsiveness, scalability, interoperability, and robustness in production systems. Using fog computing, MCCM minimizes latency through localized data processing, allowing for quicker, real time decision‑making.
Its support for containerized services enables rapid reconfiguration and seamless deployment, making it simple to grow operations as needed. Standardised protocols such as MQTT and REST‑APIs enable interoperability with both legacy and modern systems, whereas dynamic reconfiguration capabilities improve system resiliency, allowing operations to respond easily to disturbances or changing production requirements.
The Multi‑level Communication & Computation Middleware is a key component of the MODUL4R project, allowing for seamless integration of distributed control systems, real‑time analytics, and modular manufacturing workflows. By connecting edge, fog, and cloud layers, the MCCM enables manufacturers to achieve flexible, efficient, and sustainable operations, paving the way for the factories of the future.
3D Simulation‑driven optimisation for smart manufacturing lines
The Swiss Smart Factory use‑case
Author: Pantelis Papachristou
May 26th 2025
The latest demo by CORE Group’s technical team showcases a groundbreaking approach to drive digital transformation of manufacturing lines, using 3D simulation‑driven optimisation.
In collaboration with the Swiss Smart Factory (SSF) in Switzerland and using software developed by Visual Components, our team created a demo that shows how 3D simulations and data analytics can address critical bottlenecks and enhance overall efficiency and productivity in complex manufacturing operations.
3D simulation‑driven optimisation for smarter manufacturing
3D simulation is a powerful approach that uses advanced simulation software to create detailed virtual 3D models of production systems. These realistic virtual representations (3D scenes) accurately mirror the real world, including not only the physical geometry of objects and structures but also their texture, colour, lighting, and other visual properties.
In the context of manufacturing, 3D simulations are used to replicate entire production lines, individual machines, and workflows in a virtual environment. This method enables teams to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in the production line, optimise workflows, and test improvements without interrupting real‑world operations and risking downtime or disruption to actual production.
Key Features of the demo
The 3D simulation‑driven demo was developed in collaboration with the SSF, using simulation software developed by Visual Components - partnerships which our team has secured through the Twin4Twin and Modul4r Horizon EU projects. The demo was initially showcased during CORE Innovation Days, Greece’s first Industry 4.0 conference organised and hosted by CORE Group, with a follow‑up demonstration at CORE Group’s Beyond Expo booth.
In our demo, we focused on the SSF’s production line for the F330 drone, which includes several automated and robotic‑enhanced stations, such as a 3D printing farm for the drone’s blades, assembly and packaging stations, and a warehouse. By analysing the flow of components and monitoring machine utilisation, we identified areas for improvement and tested various optimisation strategies to boost overall throughput and efficiency.
3D simulation of the production line: Using the Visual Components simulation software, a virtual model of SSF’s production line was developed, including individual workstations and the transition of components (e.g. through Automated Guided Vehicles). To obtain a clear view of the production line’s behavior and establish a baseline for its performance, virtual sensors were integrated in each station to measure its cycle time, utilisation and throughput over time.
Data‑driven analysis: Leveraging data from each station, provided the foundation for identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies in SSF’s production line that slowed down production flow. Through a dedicated data analysis, we pinpointed the root causes of these bottlenecks, highlighting the problematic areas which are keen to potential improvements and refining.
Optimisation scenarios: Based on the data analysis results, we tested four targeted optimisation scenarios, to address the observed bottlenecks. For example, we introduced intermediate buffer storage systems, expanded the capacity of particular workstations and added extra stations. Running the 3D simulations on these different scenarios allowed us to compare the optimisation results with the baseline, quantifying the simulated improvements in terms of overall production rate. Interestingly, the results were not always straightforward, as adding extra stations can also create new bottlenecks elsewhere in the line, leading to a decrease in productivity. Such unexpected results underscore the need for simulations in complex manufacturing environments, where interactions between different workstations can have non‑linear and counterintuitive effects.
Final report: Finally, we created a report that juxtaposes the cost for implementing each optimisation scenario with the induced improvement in production rate. This analysis was crucial in understanding the trade‑offs between implementing these optimisation strategies and the tangible benefits they provided. Moreover, this report serves as the starting point for deriving a more detailed ROI analysis. By inserting specific financial metrics, such as production costs and profit margins, manufacturers can calculate the potential financial impact of each optimisation scenario.
The Future of Manufacturing: Smarter, Faster, More Efficient
Our demonstration underscored the potential of 3D simulation‑driven optimisation to revolutionise manufacturing processes. By combining simulations with data analytics and photorealistic 3D models, manufacturers can gain deep insights into their operations, experiment with different optimisation scenarios, and implement improvements without disrupting production.
This approach not only helps identify and solve bottlenecks but also enables manufacturers to make smarter, data‑driven decisions that lead to improved efficiency, reduced downtime, and increased productivity. In this case, manufacturers can test and refine their processes, ensuring that their production lines are always operating at peak performance.
As industries continue to embrace digitalisation, 3D simulation‑driven optimisation will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of manufacturing.
The ability to simulate, analyse, and optimise processes before implementing changes – “testing before investing” – offers a significant competitive advantage, allowing manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve and continue innovating in an ever‑evolving market.
The DiG_IT project has reached its conclusion
Author: Valia Iliopoulou
6th May 2025
After 4 and a half years, the DiG_IT project, which aimed at the transition to the Sustainable Digital Mine of the Future, is concluded. The main goal of the project was to address the needs of the mining industry to move forward towards a sustainable use of resources while keeping people and environment at the forefront of their priorities.
To this end, our consortium built an Industrial Internet of Things platform (IIoTp) which collects data from the mining industry (from humans, machines, environment and market) and transforms them into knowledge and actions. The aim of our IIoTp was to improve worker health and safety, making operations more efficient and minimising the environmental impact of mining.
The CORE team had a broad role in the project and contributed to the development of key components of the platform.
Safety Toolbox: Biosignal Analytics and Anomaly Detection
CORE was responsible for designing two out of the three components of the Intelligent safety toolbox that provides insights and supports the prevention of hazardous situations for people’s health in the mining field. The first component is the Biosignal Analytics & Anomaly Detection agent that is part of the Safety monitoring system of the Decision Support System (DSS).
The Biosignal Analytics component is a cloud agent responsible for monitoring and detecting changes in the health state of the individuals that work inside the mines. The system utilises the biometrical data from the smart garments and pairs them with Anomaly Detection models that operate in real-time, to detect any possible alerting states in the health of the miners.
Safety Toolbox: Air-quality smart monitoring and forecasting
The second component of the safety toolbox is the Air-quality smart monitoring and Forecasting agent, that is part of the Environmental and Safety monitoring system of the DSS. The agent is responsible for providing predictions of the air quality KPIs, meaning forecasting how specific air-quality substances are going to progress in the future.
This is useful for safety reasons, like notifying that a section of the mine should be evacuated when a dangerous substance exceeds the accepted limits. The development of the agent is based on Multi-Variate Neural Networks that are trained from data gathered from sensors that are deployed inside the mines.
Examples of actual and forecasted values for NO2
Analysis of target variables per hour
Predictive Operation System I
One of our team’s primary roles was the development of a Predictive Operation System that utilises AI architectures. The system consisted of a forecasting agent that predicts the consumption of an individual asset. The knowledge of anticipated consumption is critical for planning of the field operations and optimising the industrial processes.
Our team relied on COREbeat, our end-to-end predictive maintenance platform, to assist Marini Marmi, a historic marble quarry in the north of italy, with the operation of one of their critical assets. COREbeat was installed on an electrical supplied milling machine utilized for cutting though marble cubes producing marble slices. During the project, the operators received critical warnings from COREbeat. CORE team investigated and indicated the origin of the fault to Marini operators, who decided to halt the machine's operation and placed it in maintenance mode, preventing further damage to the machine.
More information on how COREbeat assisted the staff at Marini can be found here.
Predictive Operation System II
CORE was also primarily responsible for a Predictive Maintenance system that utilises Machine Learning methods and techniques. The system was designed to focus on individual assets, enabling the assessment of their overall health and the prediction of their future states in real-time. The assets selected for predictive maintenance were paired with Anomaly Detection models, specifically designed for the asset type, to maintain input consistency between applications. The goal was to create alerts that can provide early warnings to users about possible failures of the operating equipment.
Anomaly scores and anomaly thresholds of the test set
Commercialisation phase
To ensure successful commercialization, CORE’s dedicated team developed an Innovation Strategy, focusing on clear value propositions and competition mapping. The main findings show that European Economy will need to multiply its production of critical raw materials, due to the increasing digitalisation of the economy and use of renewables. Therefore, AI solutions are obligatory, if mining industry companies want to optimise operations as well as offer environmental protection but also health and safety to their employees.
Additionally, CORE developed business models for two key innovations introduced by the project, the DiG_IT IoT Platform, for mining operations optimisation, online measurements and failure predictions, and the Dig_IT Smart Garment, for improved safety and reduced risk of accidents and injuries, the two innovations with the highest TRL exposed in real conditions.
The InBlanc Project has kicked off
Author: Clio Drimala
April 24th 2025
The INBLANC research project has officially kicked off, bringing together professionals around Europe to Delft, the Netherlands for its official launch this past February.
The project aims to transform data usage in the building and construction sector by creating an open ecosystem that will maximise the value of building data across its lifecycle.
Diving into building data
Buildings generate vast amounts of data, yet much remains scattered and underutilized. To fully capitalize upon this untapped resource, INBLANC aspires to develop an open ecosystem that will transform building lifecycle data into actionable insights. Access to rich building information can support smarter decision-making for building owners and facility managers and drive value across the entire value chain. The project developments will include a cost-efficient data accumulation framework, a Building Digital Logbook consolidating building information, structured databases connected to European data spaces, and a suite of high-added value tools and services.
To help understand and improve building efficiency, INBLANC will focus on five key metrics:
Energy – Efficiency, consumption, and performance
Human – Health, occupant comfort, and well-being
Environment – Emissions, materials, and sustainability
Economy – Cost-effectiveness, value over time and resilience
Resilience – How buildings adapt to unexpected disruptions and stress
Using a nexus approach, INBLANC will model how these indicators influence each other, creating a full-picture view of building performance and identifying areas for improvement. All this data and analysis will feed into a suite of digital tools and services designed to help key stakeholders take action. Whether it is planning a renovation, improving energy consumption, enhancing indoor environmental health, or managing a property more efficiently, INBLANC will turn complex data into clear, practical steps.
CORE Innovation Centre’s Role
CORE IC will bring deep expertise to key aspects of the project:
Sustainable Renovations and Smarter Energy Use: CORE IC will play a key role in INBLANC, leading research on “Service toolset integration for capitalising Building Lifecycle Data” and “Energy Management Services”. This includes the creation of tools designed to optimise renewable energy investments and enable real-time energy management across buildings.
The team will also contribute to map financing instruments for deep renovations and contribute to nexus modeling with bio-physical and cyber-physical models. CORE IC’s efforts will also support tool integration within the project’s data model and focus on AI-driven analytics to improve decision-making.
In addition, CORE IC will be involved in a broad set of tasks, including data collection, sustainability roadmaps, decision support systems, and large-scale performance gap analysis. Through advanced monitoring and optimization strategies, CORE IC will help drive more efficient, sustainable renovations and smarter energy use.
Dissemination, Communication and Innovation Management: CORE IC will also lead all strategic communications to increase project awareness and build INBLANC's reputation across crucial target groups, from key specialists and stakeholders to broader audiences. This will ensure that the project's actionable solutions receive the desired attention and add value to potential users. Moreover, CORE IC will lead Exploitation and Innovation Management, focusing on analyzing, refining, and commercializing Key Exploitable Results (KERs). These efforts will ensure INBLANC's research transitions into market-oriented solutions, fostering innovation and sustainability.
Looking towards a sustainable future
Bringing together 22 partners from 10 countries over the project’s 42-month term, INBLANC will play a significant role in building a more sustainable future. Collecting, organizing, analyzing, and acting on building lifecycle data will help make buildings greener and more efficient.
The consortium partners blend expertise from leading SMEs, renowned universities, RTD institutions, and large-scale industrial organizations, including: DEMO CONSULTANTS , Frederick Research Center, Aalborg University, CORE Innovation Centre, Tampere University, R2M Solution, Z Prime, CYPE, MIWenergía, Colouree, Roelofs & Haase, Comfortica, EPLO European Public Law Organization, Municipality of Thessaloniki, Siemens AG Oesterreich, Zenith, CMB, Estia SA, EPFL, EPIQR Rénovation, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG), ETH Zürich
CORE Group at the 2025 Beyond Expo
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
14th April 2025
Beyond Expo took place last week, and our team couldn’t miss out.
It’s our third time joining the expo, and the first time it takes place in Athens. Our team was there to showcase the latest demos from our Horizon projects, as well as the COREbeat end-to-end predictive maintenance platform.
The CORE Group booth
Throughout the three-day event, we had the pleasure of engaging with many attendees stopping by our booth.
The expo was an interesting mix of industry veterans and AI enthusiasts, all of whom were very excited to see our Predictive Maintenance platform, COREbeat, in action. Our showcase included a motor connected to a beatBox, COREbeat’s hardware component, and visitors were allowed to push a nail in the machine and watch COREbeat’s UI platform spot the malfunction in near-real time. You can watch a short version of our COREbeat demo here.
Visitors also got to learn more about our Research & Innovation initiatives through the CORE Innovation Centre, with two live demonstrations of our most recent demos:
FAIRE, which is a cutting-edge solution that combines AI, edge computing, and federated learning to address critical challenges in industrial operations. FAIRE was developed through our participation in the MODUL4R and RE4DY EU projects. You can watch a short version of our demonstration here.
Smart Manufacturing Lines, a demo of a 3D Simulation-driven optimisation approach, testing different scenarios for smart manufacturing lines. This demo was developed in partnership with SSF, our Twin4Twin project partners, and Visual Components, our visualisation partner in the MODUL4R project.
Apart from our live demonstration, we also showcased the ELEXIA, DACAPO, and TRINEFLEX, all of which focus on energy optimisation across different industries.
Our booth was designed and constructed by the amazing team at Level Up events and exhibitions.
Industry Panel Discussions
Our managing partners, Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis and Stefanos Kokkorikos, were invited to participate in two separate panel discussions, discussing the latest developments in machine learning and AI.
Stefanos Kokkorikos took part in a panel discussion hosted by HETiA, talking about on the opportunities offered by edge computing technologies, as showcased by our Horizon EU projects participating in the expo.
Nikos Kyriakoulis participated in the main conference of the event, talking about the AI boom and how SIRI can help manufacturers evaluate their Industry 4.0 readiness. You can watch the discussion in the video below.
As part of our participation in the expo, Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis was also invited for an interview on CORE Group and its initiatives. You can watch the video below.
Stay in touch
A big big thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and say hi!
We look forward to staying in touch and collaborating.
See you all soon!
CORE Group at the 2025 Smart Factory Conference
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
March 27th 2025
Our team sponsored this year’s Smart Factory Conference, which took place earlier this week.
Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis, CORE Group Co-Founder and Managing Partner, was invited as a speaker, to talk about the SIRI assessment tool and how it can help manufacturers navigate the Industry 4.0 landscape.
The first step towards Industry 4.0 success
Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at CORE Group, delivered an intriguing presentation, talking about potential pathways towards Industry 4.0 integration. He presented SIRI, the digital maturity assessment tool that helps prioritise new Industry 4.0 initiatives and systematically re‑validate existing projects.
You can learn more about SIRI here, and you can watch the full presentation below.
The CORE Group showcase
Conference attendees got to take a look at COREbeat, our end-to-end Predictive Maintenance solution. You can find out more information about COREbeat here.
We also got to spotlight some of our key Horizon EU projects, raising awareness about the StreamSTEP and DaCapo projects.
StreamSTEP is a newly-launched project, which aims to streamline the optimisation of Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems and prototype new technologies in process industries.
The DaCapo project, already on its third year, aims at the creation of human-centric digital tools and services for improving the adoption of Circular Economy strategies along both manufacturing value chains and products lifecycle.
Stay in touch
A big thank you to the conference organisers. See you all at the next event!
Two white papers published by our Innovation team
Author: Ioannis Batas
March 20th 2025
At CORE Innovation Days, held earlier this year, our Innovation Department published two white papers: "Our Innovation Management Methodology for EC-funded Projects" and "Factory of the Future: What’s Happening, What’s Evolving, and What’s Next."
The two white papers were distributed to attendees, offering valuable insights into our innovation management methodology and the transformative potential of Industry 4.0.
White Paper #1: "Our Innovation Management Methodology for EC-funded Projects"
In the dynamic landscape of EU-funded research, turning innovative concepts into tangible solutions requires a strategic approach. In the first white paper, we present our Innovation Management methodology, which unfolds through a four-phase exploitation strategy designed to help researchers and consortium partners navigate the entire process. From identifying project Key Exploitable Results (KERs) to developing market roadmaps, our methodology ensures that results are protected through Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and strategically positioned for market adoption.
Our Innovation Management methodology also features the CORE Exploitation Canvas, a tool we designed to streamline the market entry of KERs from EU-funded projects. The canvas guides teams through 10 key blocks: identifying partners and IP ownership, selecting IPR protection, analyzing the target market, addressing barriers, assessing broader impact, evaluating the State of the Art and Unique Selling Points, outlining exploitation routes, setting actions and milestones, and identifying costs and revenue streams. By simplifying complex innovation processes, the CORE Exploitation Canvas helps teams align outputs with market needs, accelerate adoption, and create sustainable impact.
You can download the white paper here.
White Paper #2: "Factory of the Future: What’s Happening, What’s Evolving, and What’s Next"
Industry 4.0 is revolutionising manufacturing, presenting both opportunities and challenges for companies. Our second paper explores the transformative potential of smart factories enabled by AI, IoT, and other advanced technologies. The global Industry 4.0 market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach €511 billion by 2032, driven by the shift towards scalable, automated, and interconnected production systems.
This white paper analyses key technologies shaping the future of manufacturing, from AI and IoT to robotics and additive manufacturing, while addressing the barriers companies should mitigate. It highlights critical issues like workforce upskilling, cybersecurity risks, and the integration of legacy systems, offering practical strategies to navigate these challenges. By bridging current capabilities with future possibilities, this paper serves as a guide for manufacturers looking to embrace digital transformation and secure long-term competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.
Our insights for this second paper were further enriched by our involvement in leading the exploitation management activities of the MODUL4R and M4ESTRO projects.
You can download the white paper here.
White papers now available online
At CORE Group, we believe that knowledge sharing is essential for driving technological progress and empowering innovators to transform ideas into impactful solutions.
If you missed the event or want to explore further, both white papers are now accessible. Learn how CORE Innovation is shaping the future of research exploitation and innovation management.
For more information, don't hesitate to reach out to our Innovation Department.
OPTIMINER Project Launch: A Collaborative Step Towards Sustainable Mining
Author: Eleni Natsi
February 27th 2025
The OPTIMINER project’s kick-off meeting, held over two days in Athens, Greece, marked a significant milestone in the journey to revolutionise Europe’s mining industry. Organised successfully by I-SENSE Group/ICCS, the project coordinator, the meeting served as a key platform for all project partners to gather, discuss the core aspects of the project, and set the stage for what promises to be a transformative European initiative.
During the meeting, each partner had the opportunity to introduce themselves and engage in a fruitful discussion about the project's goals, the different work packages, and upcoming steps. A thorough presentation of the six use cases in Spain, Greece, Poland, Finland, and Chile, focusing on CRM recovery (specifically magnesium, tungsten, REE, especially neodymium, copper, cobalt, and coking coal), took place.
These detailed presentations offered insights into the planned steps, implementation strategies, and anticipated outcomes. The discussions emphasised the importance of applying cutting-edge technologies to real-world scenarios, which will be key to the project’s overall impact.
The event culminated with a delightful dinner in the heart of Athens, providing a relaxed atmosphere for project members to connect, exchange ideas, and reinforce their shared commitment to the project’s success.
The vision
The OPTIMINER project aims to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in Europe’s mining sector: efficiently and sustainably recovering critical raw materials (CRMs) from complex, low-grade ores. This ambitious initiative blends advanced technologies with sustainability efforts, striving to enhance mining efficiency while minimising environmental impact. At its core, OPTIMINER integrates innovative, AI-driven solutions to address challenges across five key modules:
REMINER: Advanced CRM recovery technologies, such as smart ore sorting, bioleaching, and phytomining, powered by an AI-driven CRM Recovery Selector.
DIGIMINER: A digital platform for smart monitoring and control, featuring a Decision Support System, Virtual Miner assistant, and Digital Twins for process optimisation.
ECOMINER: Tools designed to optimise energy and water use, along with waste valorisation, contributing to enhanced sustainability and resilience.
DEMOMINER: Real-world pilot demonstrations in Spain, Greece, Poland, Finland, and Chile, focused on CRMs like magnesium, tungsten, neodymium, copper, cobalt, and coking coal.
GLOBEMINER: Promoting global awareness and fostering EU-Chile strategic cooperation to accelerate market uptake.
CORE Innovation Centre’s Role
As a key partner in the OPTIMINER project, CORE IC will play a pivotal role across several areas:
Technical plan preparation: Leading the effort for the technical plan of each use case, including technical specifications and technological expertise (AS IS situations, data availability, sensors connectivity, and other operating systems).
CRM Recovery Selector: Responsible for defining the criteria and parameters for the CRM Recovery Selector, developing the technology database, and creating detailed profiles for each use case. This also includes the development of customizable algorithms and UI design, along with integrating a digital assistant based on Natural Language Processing (NLP).
Virtual Miner: Tasked with developing an NLP-based multi-role assistant capable of verbal interaction with miners, operators, and managers in the field. This virtual assistant will integrate with the OPTIMINER DSS to provide real-time verbal insights on predictive analytics and strategic planning.
DIGIMINER Platform: Leading the design of the DIGIMINER platform, built on data-driven Digital Twins. This will leverage sensor, historical, and operational data with proper abstraction and distribution among data sources. The goal is to design the connections and interactions of Digital Twins, DSS, and Virtual Miner, as well as establish a cloud infrastructure, featuring a hybrid data warehouse. The platform will also include a modular AI-augmented market observatory to forecast mining market values.
Dissemination, Communication, and Innovation Management: Taking the lead in raising awareness about the project’s outcomes and its impact on sustainable raw materials production. The focus is on communication, exploitation, and innovation management to ensure that the benefits of OPTIMINER reach broader audiences and translate into actionable solutions within the industry.
Stefanos Kokkorikos, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of CORE Group, presenting CORE IC at the kick-off meeting.
Our Consortium
The OPTIMINER project is a collaborative effort, involving 21 partners from 8 countries, combining academic and industrial expertise. With a total budget of €7.29 million over 48 months, the project aims to integrate state-of-the-art technological developments with practical, on-the-ground applications.
Notable partners in the OPTIMINER project include: I-SENSE Group/ICCS, Tapojarvi, JSW (Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa SA), SALORO SL, Leonore Development, TERNAMAG (part of TERNA S.A.), EUROCORE CONSULTING, AHK Business Centre SA, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), EcoCastulum, CogniSensus, CORE Innovation Centre (CORE IC), ITA · Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, Fraunhofer Chile, DigitalTwin Technology GmbH, Łukasiewicz – IMN, Główny Instytut Górnictwa (GIG) - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Fraunhofer, Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster | ISMC, LIBRA AI Technologies and HANNUKAINEN MINING OY.
Looking ahead
With the successful launch of the OPTIMINER project, the partners are now focused on the practical implementation of the project’s use cases, the development of new technologies, and increasing awareness through targeted communication and dissemination activities. The coming months will be crucial as teams work to bring the project’s objectives to life.
The OPTIMINER project holds tremendous promise for the future of mining, offering innovative and sustainable methods for recovering and utilising critical raw materials -essential for Europe’s green transition and the global mining industry.
FAIRE: Federated Artificial Intelligence for Remaining useful life Edge analytics
Revolutionising Industrial Operations with FAIRE: Federated AI for Predictive Maintenance
Author: Konstantina Tsioli, Pavlos Stavrou
February 20th 2025
At CORE Innovation Days in January, CORE unveiled a groundbreaking demonstration of FAIRE (Federated Artificial Intelligence for Remaining Useful Life Edge Analytics), a cutting-edge solution that combines AI, edge computing, and federated learning to address critical challenges in industrial operations.
This innovative approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also ensures data privacy and scalability, making it a game-changer for industries like manufacturing, energy, and pharmaceutical.
What is FAIRE
FAIRE is a ground-breaking solution based on the MODUL4R and RE4DY EU projects. FAIRE is a federated AI solution designed to optimise industrial processes by leveraging edge computing and federated learning.
It enables real-time data processing and predictive analytics, while keeping sensitive data secure and on-premise. FAIRE showcased how it can be applied to predictive maintenance for CNC machines, but its applications extend far beyond this use case.
Key FAIRE Features
Edge Computing: This solution utilises edge devices deployed directly on the shop floor to collect and process data locally. This reduces latency, minimises bandwidth usage, and ensures real-time insights without relying on constant cloud connectivity.
In the demo, two edge devices were connected to CNC machines, collecting data relevant to tool wear and predicting the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of milling tools.
Remaining Useful Life (RUL): is a predictive tool that estimates the time left before a machine or component fails or requires maintenance, based on real-time data and historical performance patterns. In the context of FAIRE, the RUL model predicts tool wear in CNC machines, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime while ensuring data privacy and security.
Federated Learning: FAIRE employs federated learning to enable collaborative intelligence across multiple machines or factories. Instead of sharing raw data, only model parameters (e.g., insights and updates) are sent to a central server, ensuring data privacy and compliance with regulations like GDPR. This approach allows machines to "learn" from each other, improving prediction accuracy and operational efficiency without compromising sensitive information.
Data Privacy and Security: By keeping data on-premise and sharing only model updates, FAIRE ensures that proprietary information remains secure. This is particularly important for industries with strict data protection requirements.
Scalability and Flexibility: FAIRE’s architecture is designed to scale effortlessly. As new machines or edge devices are added to the network, they can seamlessly integrate into the federated learning ecosystem, enhancing the system’s overall intelligence and resilience.
Predictive Maintenance for CNC Machines
The demonstration of FAIRE solution focuses on a real life application: predictive maintenance for CNC machines. Here’s how it worked:
Data Collection: Two edge devices were connected to two CNC machines, collecting real-time data on tool wear and machine performance using industrial protocols like OPC-UA and MQTT.
Local Processing: The edge devices preprocessed the data locally, running AI models to detect anomalies and predict RUL. Results were displayed on monitors, providing operators with actionable insights.
Federated Learning: Model updates from each edge device were aggregated to a central server to update the global model. The updated model was then sent back to the edge devices, enhancing their predictive accuracy.
Real-Time Insights: Operators then could monitor tool wear and RUL in real time, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.
The benefits of FAIRE
FAIRE offers numerous benefits for industrial operations:
Smarter Machines: Continuous learning and adaptation improve machine performance and operational efficiency.
Enhanced Data Privacy: Sensitive data remains on-premise, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and/or requirements.
Cost Optimisation: Reduced data transmission and proactive maintenance minimise operational costs.
Collaborative Intelligence: Federated learning enables machines to learn from each other, improving model accuracy across the network.
Scalability: The solution can easily scale to include additional machines or factories, making it suitable for large industrial networks.
Application areas
While the demonstration of FAIRE solution involved an example of CNC machines, its capabilities extend to various industries:
Pharmaceutical: In a sector where protecting sensitive and production data is paramount, this solution safeguards data privacy and security.
Automotive: Enhance predictive maintenance for automotive production lines.
Aerospace: Improve the performance and reliability of aircraft components.
Energy and Smart Grids: Monitor and optimise power grid equipment like transformers and substations.
Mining: Optimise the operation of heavy machinery like excavators and drilling equipment.
FAIRE represents a significant leap forward in industrial AI, combining the power of edge computing and federated learning to deliver real-time insights, enhance data privacy, and optimise operations. By addressing critical challenges like unexpected downtime, inefficient data handling, and legacy equipment limitations, FAIRE empowers industries to achieve smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.
Solutions like FAIRE will play a critical role in shaping the future of industrial automation and data-driven decision-making.
Introducing Smart Data Management to Mining Operations
Authors: Konstantina Tsioli, Nikolaos Gevrekis, Konstantinos Plessas
February 13th 2025
The CORE Innovation Centre team has developed a key backend platform for the MASTERMINE project, which aspires to become the go-to ecosystem for mines that envision digitalisation, environmental sustainability, productivity monitoring and public acceptance.
A key module of the MASTERMINE project is Cybermine, which serves as the access point to the physical world managing the field data for all components, connecting the physical and digital world through technologies like IIoT, the cloud, edge computing and machine learning ensuring the smart mine design and predictive maintenance of equipment and vehicles.
Our team has developed a backend platform within the Cybermine module, which seamlessly integrates and manages data from various sources across the mining industry. As a smart data management system, it automates data collection, storage, and access, ensuring flexibility, scalability and efficiency in the use of data.
Here’s a look at the ingredients that make this platform innovative.
An overview of the back-end platform developed by the CORE IC team
Collecting Data from Different Sources
Everything begins with data sources, which can include sensors, devices, or systems in the mining industry that generate information. However, not all data is the same - different sources provide data in different formats, structures, and transmission methods. Some data is received in real-time, while other data arrives in scheduled batches. In some cases, end users may even need to manually upload files. The platform uses a multi-layered storage approach, enabling it to secure and organise data types like real-time updates, historical records, and large files. Tools such as S3 buckets, InfluxDB, and PostgreSQL ensure both speed and reliability.
Making the Data Available to Users
Once stored, the data needs to be easily accessible. This is where the Consumption Layer comes in. This layer allows users to retrieve any data they need, whether it’s raw data straight from the source, processed insights, real-time feeds, or historical records. Through this layer, users can access raw or processed data quickly and efficiently, tailored to their specific needs, such as real-time monitoring or historical analysis.
Innovation: Making Data Collection Smarter
Traditionally, integrating data from different devices and sensors required custom-built services for each type of data source, making the process slow and complicated. The platform developed by our team eliminates this challenge by offering an automated, intelligent system that dynamically adapts to any new data source. Consequently, the effort needed to integrate new data sources is significantly reduced.
Significance for the Mining Industry
Mining operations are known for their harsh conditions, making it challenging to collect and manage data effectively. A platform like the one developed by CORE IC is critical because it simplifies data integration and enables the seamless collection of data from diverse sources, even in environments where traditional methods struggle. Its robust architecture ensures data reliability and accessibility, even in remote or extreme locations.
The ability to interpret data ahead of time is crucial for mining operations, particularly regarding heavy machinery, where real-time insights can prevent breakdowns, enhance maintenance schedules, and ensure operational continuity. By transforming raw data into actionable insights, the platform empowers decision-makers — whether managers, operators, or engineers — to make informed decisions, improving safety, productivity, and efficiency. Ultimately, the platform supports innovation, sustainability, and operational resilience in the demanding context of the modern mining industry.
CORE Innovation Days: Shaping Tomorrow’s Industry, Today
The inaugural Industry 4.0 conference, hosted by CORE Group, was an astounding success.
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
January 23rd 2025
CORE Innovation Days, Greece’s first Industry 4.0 conference, took place last week. The two‑day, invitation‑only conference brought together key global leaders from industry, academia, and policy‑making to showcase new trends, challenges and successes in digital transformation and discuss the future of Industry 4.0.
The event was funded through the CORE Innovation Centre’s participation in Twin4Twin, a project supported by the Horizon EU Widening Work Programme.
The main event | Day 1
The conference opened with remarks from Stefanos Kokkorikos and Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis, Founders and Managing Partners of CORE Group, welcoming conference attendees and introducing the Twin4Twin project.
Their welcome was followed by greetings from distinguished guests, including Stefan Estermann, Ambassador of Switzerland in Greece; Prof. Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General at the Ministry of Digital Governance; and Michail Dritsas from the Greek Ministry of Economy & Finance, who highlighted the STEP Programme’s potential in advancing Greek and European organisations.
Session A: Digital Transformation in Industry
Session A explored the transformative journey industries are taking to embrace digital innovation throughout their production pipeline, in Greece and abroad.
George Panagiotopoulos (EY) focused on the digital transformation journey of Greek industry, suggesting ways for manufacturers to leverage digital tools to create value sustainably and at scale. Raimund Klein (INCIT) introduced the strategic framework offered by the SIRI tool to Greek audiences. Dr. Dominic Gorecky (SSF) shared some real-world insights from the Swiss model for a smart factory. Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis concluded the session, introducing CORE Group’s Greek Smart Factory initiative – a platform for manufacturers and tech providers to network, innovate and test before they invest.
Session B: The Present and Future of Industry 4.0
Session B provided a forward‑looking perspective on the technologies driving Industry 4.0 and was moderated by Prof. David Romero (World Manufacturing Foundation). Prof. Romero presented the 2024 World Manufacturing Report, which offers insights on future-proofing manufacturing and was edited by a global team of contributors, including CORE Group’s Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis. You can read the full report here.
Discussions focused on how businesses can prepare for an uncertain and ever‑evolving future through strategic frameworks and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital modelling. Prof. Dimitris Kyritsis (University of Oslo) introduced foundational frameworks for connecting digital assets. Dr. John Soldatos (Netcompany) highlighted the transformative potential of generative AI and LLMs in industry. Dr. Foivos Psarommatis (Zerofect) discussed upcoming regulations on DPPs and how they are expected to affect industrial operations. Ignacio Montero Castro (AIMEN) explained how AASs can act as bridges between physical and digital worlds. Dr. Jacopo Cassina (Syxis) explored industrial data spaces as tools for cognitive production. The final speaker for this session, Jarkko Soikkeli (Visual Components) examined the evolution and applications of Digital Twin technologies in productivity optimisation.
Session C: Industry 4.0 Innovation Case Studies
The final session of the day showcased real-world applications of Industry 4.0 applications, highlighting groundbreaking Horizon EU Industry 4.0 projects from CORE Group and its partners in three separate panel discussions.
The first panel, Digital and Green Transition of Manufacturing, moderated by CORE Group’s Dr. Pantelis Papachristou, explored how digital and green technologies are reshaping manufacturing ecosystems, identified challenges and opportunities, and discussed the roles of innovation, data, and AI-collaboration in driving this change. Projects discussed included, among others, MODUL4R, M4ESTRO, and Circular TwAIn. Panel participants included Dr. Dimitris Panopoulos (Suite5), Prof. Paolo Pedrazzoli (TTS), Prof. Pedro Malo (Unparallel), Dr. Niki Kousi (EIT Manufacturing) and Dr. Vicky Panagiotopoulou (LMS).
The second panel, Energy and Sustainability of Processes with Industry 4.0, was moderated by CORE Group’s Valia Iliopoulou and focused on energy‑efficient and sustainable industrial processes, such as the ones introduced in TRINEFLEX. Panel participants included George Tsimiklis (ICCS), Dr. Mario Pichler (SCCH), Anna Domènech Abella (CELSA) and Dr. Hussam Jouhara (Brunel University of London).
The third panel, Digital Transformation of Mines with Industry 4.0, moderated by CORE Group’s Konstantina Tsioli, attempted to address inefficiencies, sustainability issues, and resilience demands in the mining industry, driven by high global demand for raw materials, declining ore grades, and environmental imperatives. Milestone mining projects such as MASTERMINE took center stage. Panel participants included Dr. Antonis Peppas (NTUA), Dr. Jose Ramon Valdés (ITA), Kostas Botsialas (AURORA), Dr. Santiago Cuesta Lopez (ISMC) and Emilios Vazoukis (Terna MAG).
Parallel Demo Sessions
Throughout the conference, attendees got to stop by demos set up by our team, showcasing different Industry 4.0 technology trends. One of our demos showcased COREbeat, our end‑to‑end predictive maintenance platform, which included a motor connected to a beatBox, COREbeat’s hardware component. Visitors were allowed to push a nail in the machine and watch COREbeat’s UI platform spot the malfunction in near‑real time. Another demo showcased a solution for AI application deployment which boasts data acquisition on the edge, AI modes for Remaining Useful Life and Federated Learning for increasing data volume while retaining enhanced data privacy – a combination of technologies used in MODUL4R and RE4DY, two of our Horizon EU projects. The final demo, which our team carried out in collaboration with the Swiss Smart Factory, scenario–based optimisation of an actual manufacturing process for drones, using Digital Twins and 3D visual representation for enhanced explainability.
Proposal Writing Workshops | Day 2
For the second day of the event, participants were invited to proposal writing workshops, aimed at fostering collaboration and building consortia for upcoming Research & Innovation calls. Throughout the day, partners met in groups to explore specific funding opportunities, during focused parallel sessions carried out in CORE Group’s central offices.
These workshops were designed to empower participants with practical insights and strategies for crafting competitive proposals, ensuring alignment with the latest Horizon EU priorities. By facilitating direct interaction and knowledge exchange, CORE Innovation Days is paving the way for innovative partnerships and impactful solutions that address the challenges of tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
The inaugural CORE Innovation Days has set a strong foundation, starting an international dialogue on Industry 4.0 in Greece. By fostering collaboration among global leaders, sparking meaningful discussions on cutting‑edge technologies, and equipping participants with tools for future success, this event has proven to be a transformative milestone.
Beyond showcasing innovations, the first CORE Innovation Days fostered meaningful knowledge exchange, with participants sharing experiences and best practices that highlight the value of collaboration within Industry 4.0.
For more information and updates, you can visit the event’s dedicated website.
Building on this momentum, we look forward to welcoming our community again next year.
Celebrating CORE Group’s 2024
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
December 20th 2024
It’s been a big year for our team, full of outstanding recognitions of our collective efforts, industry events and conferences, and brimming with new initiatives beyond our many Horizon EU projects.
Honestly, it’s been a lot to take in, but here’s the gist of it.
Events
Our team hit the road more than ever this year, with corporate participation in 1 summit, 2 expos, 4 sponsored events and more than 10 conferences!
As we gear up for even more participation to industry events next year - and to organising some of our own – we thank everyone who took the time to visit our booths, engage with our team and suggest collaboration pathways for our teams.
New COREbeat installations
COREbeat’s impact on industry continues to grow! This year, COREbeat was installed at many key Greek industry facilities, including TERNA MAG and EYDAP, as well as Tharsis and HALCOR, through CORE Group’s participation in Horizon EU projects.
Our team also received some praising testimonials from previous installations of COREbeat. COREbeat was successful in assisting Marini Marmi, a 120-year old marble quarry in the north of Italy, in modernising its legacy equipment and machinery, and informing their staff about machinery parts being in critical condition. In EP.AL.ME., a leading Greek manufacturer, COREbeat informed the staff of potential upcoming malfunctions, sparing them from unexpected downtime, delays in the factory’s production pipeline, and substantial losses due to production delays.
As COREbeat’s impact continues to grow, we are always looking for new partners eager to get started on their predictive maintenance journey and revolutionise their industrial facilities. If you are interested, you can reach out to our team through info@core-beat.com and share more information on your needs.
R&D Projects
CORE Group and the CORE Innovation Centre have joined forces with partners across the EU in a total of 16 new Horizon Europe projects. Some of these projects have already launched this year, while others are just getting ready to kick things off!
The new projects bring our total to over 50 research projects, ongoing or completed, and increase our research budget to over 24 million €. We are very excited for these brand new R&I initiatives, a preview of which you can get below, and look forward to working with our partners to transform industry with the power of AI.
As the years closes, we are also looking back at many of our years-long consortia, which have wrapped up activities this year, including Dig_IT, SATO, TEAMING.AI, InComEss and MOSES. It’s been an amazing experience working closely with all our EU partners to deliver radical Industry 4.0 change in key EU industries.
We look forward to a bright future with even more fruitful collaborations.
SIRI Assessors
This year, CORE Group Founders and Managing Partners, Stefanos Kokkorikos & Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis, were invited by INCIT thanks to the GSF initiative to become certified SIRI assessors.
The Smart Readiness Index (SIRI) is a digital maturity assessment tool that helps systematically re-validate existing Industry 4.0 projects or launch new initiatives. It was developed by industry experts and is recognised by the World Economic Forum as the global standard for Industry 4.0 transformation.
Thanks to this internationally recongised certification, CORE Group is currently the only company in Greece certified to conduct Industry 4.0 readiness assessments with the SIRI tool.
For more information on how to get your Industry 4.0 assessment, you can contact secretary@core-innovation.com.
SIRI is a digital maturity assessment tool that evaluates Industry 4.0 readiness in three levels: process, technology and organisation.
Launch of the Greek Smart Factory
CORE Group’s newest endeavour, the Greek Smart Factory (GSF), was announced this past summer. GSF is envisioned as a platform for manufacturers, tech providers and academia, allowing them to network, innovate, and advance in a real industrial environment.
The official announcement took place during the 5th International Smart Factory Summit in Switzerland, followed by a stakeholder workshop at our central offices in Athens, Greece, attended by key professionals and manufacturing decision-makers from Greece and our global network.
CORE IC has been funded to create GSF thanks to this rich know-how, and through its participation in the Twin4Twin project.
Learn more and find out how you can get involved here.
The Industrial Production & Manufacturing Awards
This year CORE Group had a big first, achieving outstanding recognition at the 2024 Industrial Production & Manufacturing Awards!
Our team took home 4 awards, with the highlight of the evening being CORE Group’s distinction as Leading Provider of the Year. This prestigious honour recognises our team’s continuous commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology and services for Greek Industry.
A big winner of the evening was COREbeat, our end-to-end predictive maintenance platform, which earned two significant awards, including the Silver Award for Best Technology Systems for Prodution, and Gold Award for Best Industrial IoT. COREbeat’s use of advanced Industrial IoT (IIoT) methodologies, machine learning, cloud computing, and edge computing has positioned it as a trusted tool for achieving new levels of operational efficiency, and it’s already being piloted with installations in heavy-duty industries in Greece and abroad, including EP.AL.ME. (part of the Metlen Group), EYDAP, Marini Marmi in Northern Italy, Terna Mag, MAXI, Halcor, and Calpak, among others.
The CORE Innovation Centre (CORE IC), our non-profit research and innovation centre, also got its moment in the spotlight, winning the Silver Award in the Rising Star category. CORE IC is involved in over 50 European research projects funded by the Horizon program, with a global network of more than 300 partners and over €24 million in funding.
Our heartfelt thanks to the organisers and judges for these awards and to our partners who continue to inspire us.
Looking towards the future
As 2024 draws to a close, we are immensely proud of the milestones our amazing team has achieved this year. With even more ambitious plans for 2025, we are ready to build on this year’s momentum and help even more organisations advance on their Industry 4.0 transformation, strengthening our partnerships, and delivering value to manufacturers worldwide.
CORE Group at the 9th Raw Materials Community Dialogue
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
December 3rd 2024
This year’s Greek Raw Materials Community Dialogue, hosted by EIT Raw Materials RIS Hub Greece, took place this November.
CORE Group, as an event sponsor, was there to discuss the future of the raw materials and mining sector, in Greece and abroad.
Accelerating Mining Digital Transformation
Stefanos Kokkorikos, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at CORE Group, was invited to deliver a panel session speech. He took the opportunity to showcase CORE Group’s exemplary work in the sector, through our participation in landmark Horizon EU projects.
Stefanos took attendees through a trip “from Pit to Processing“, explaining what Industry 4.0 transformation entails in the mining sector. He showed how analytics can make exploration smart, how predictive maintenance algorithms can be implemented at the extraction stage, and how Industry 4.0 technology solutions can facilitate the processing stage.
If you didn’t get a chance to join the event, you can download his presentation here.
Poster session
The panels were followed by poster sessions, where attendees got the chance to share more information on their work in the mining sector.
CORE Group attended the event on behalf of the MASTERMINE and DEXPLORE consortiums. The MASTERMINE project aims to become the go‑to ecosystem for mines that envision digitalisation, with a focus on the Industrial Metaverse approach. DEXPLORE is a new venture for our CORE team, which aims to innovate deep‑land critical mineral exploration through a mix of innovative technologies, like advanced earth observation methods and extended reality solutions. You can follow DEXPLORE on LinkedIn - its website is under construction.
Partners from our PRIM‑ROCK consortium were also in attendance. PRIM‑ROCK is a new project which aims to improve the resource efficiency of the calcination and roasting processes through a multifaceted, input to output strategy, comprising advanced pre‑processing techniques and AI‑driven process simulations. PRIM‑ROCK has just had its kick‑off meeting - follow its account on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date.
Stay in touch
A big thanks from the CORE team to the dialogue organisers for a very intriguing day, engaging discussions and an insider look at the Industry 4.0 future of mining.
See you all soon.
The StreamSTEP Horizon Europe project officially Kicks off
Author: Maria Lentoudi
November 27th 2024
The official kick-off meeting of the StreamSTEP project took place on November 13–14, 2024, in Trondheim, Norway. The event was hosted by the Project Coordinator, SINTEF, and brought together representatives from the 30 partner organizations that comprise the StreamSTEP Consortium. The meeting provided a platform for partners to introduce their institutions and outline their specific roles in this pioneering research initiative.
During the two-day meeting, each partner had the opportunity to present their expertise and engage in productive discussions on the project’s objectives, work packages, and forthcoming activities. These presentations offered valuable insights into planned methodologies, implementation strategies, and expected outcomes. A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the critical importance of applying cutting-edge technologies to real-world industrial challenges—an approach that is central to achieving the project’s goals and maximizing its impact.
The StreamSTEP project
Over the course of its four-year duration, the StreamSTEP project aims to improve heating energy management in industrial processes. The project will deploy five innovative heat exchanger prototypes for waste heat across temperatures from 135°C to over 1400°C. High-temperature heat pumps will enhance heat recovery, achieving outlet temperatures of 150°C and 215°C, with improved performance through ejector technology. Advanced manufacturing techniques and novel material alloys will enable these innovations. The system will be demonstrated across five sectors, copper, ceramics, silicon, plastics and oil & gas, with significant impacts on waste heat recovery, productivity, and energy flexibility.
StreamSTEP will adopt advanced solutions, comprising both technologies and practices, for sustainable heating energy in Energy Intensive Industries. These solutions are expected to have a positive impact on process industries, meaning:
Consolidating a process data collection and management platform, providing the digital infrastructure needed for the planning and management of process lifecycle.
Consolidating a process hybrid Digital Twin (HDT) framework to enhance the design and management of heat recovery and reuse processes.
Reduce the environmental footprint of heat exchanger and heat pipe components in manufacturing.
Deliver 5 advanced Heat Exchanger prototypes – DC1 Copper, DC2 Ceramic, DC3 Silicon, DC4 Plastic, DC5 Oil and gas.
Comprise 5 demonstrators, complemented by an impact booster, amplifying the outcomes in terms of marketability, social value creation and accelerate StreamSTEP adoption.
CORE Innovation Centre’s Role
As a key partner in the StreamSTEP project, CORE IC will play a pivotal role across several areas:
Data architecture design and orchestration: Our team will lead the development of the project's digital platform as well as the integration of the project’s technical components into the platform — including data architecture, middleware for the digital infrastructure, smart IoT integration
Predictive maintenance function integration: Based on our well-established know-how through our the COREbeat platform, our team will develop Predictive Maintenance solutions for Heat Exchangers and Heat Pumps
Process digital twin and HMI integration: Our role will be to coordinate the integration of hybrid process digital twins for each of the processes selected.
Energy Management System (EMS): CORE IC will expand the Energy Management System (EMS) both for offline planning and real-time operation using advanced techniques such as machine learning and deep neural networks to optimise industrial processes and energy efficiency.
Dissemination, Communication, and Innovation Management: CORE IC will also lead the communication and dissemination activities, increasing project awareness and build StreamSTEP’s reputation across crucial target groups. Moreover, CORE IC will lead the Exploitation Strategy and IPR Management, focusing on analysing, refining, and commercialising Key Exploitable Results (KERs).
The StreamSTEP consortium
StreamSTEP is a collaborative effort involving 30 partners from 9 countries across the European Union, as well as Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The consortium includes a diverse group of participants—universities, research institutes, SMEs, and key industry stakeholders such as suppliers and end-users—working together on this ambitious and transformative initiative.
With a total budget of €14.99 million over a 48-month period, StreamSTEP aims to revolutionize the management of thermal energy in industrial processes, enhancing efficiency and sustainability across sectors.
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts from across the innovation landscape, including: SINTEF, SINTEF Energy, CORE Innovation Centre, ΑΙΜΕΝ Technology Centre, BRUNEL University London, Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, Imperial College London, Institute of Computer and Communication Systems, CIRCE Centro Tecnologico, Vytautas Magnus University, Technical University of Crete, Tampere University, University of Seville, Institute for Ceramic Technology, ALEA Design, MIWenergía, Econotherm, Expander Tech, Teknopar, Enviva, INCOTEC, Gruppo FOS, GEP, HALCOR, Torrecid, ELKEM, Elbi, Repsol, Future Materials, Proval SARL.
You can find more information on the StreamSTEP project website, designed by our team.
CORE Group Recognised as Leading Provider at the 2024 Industrial Production & Manufacturing Awards
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
November 21st 2024
CORE Group has achieved outstanding recognition at the 2024 Industrial Production & Manufacturing Awards, taking home 4 awards, including the title of Leading Provider of the Year. This prestigious honor for CORE Group, along with awards for COREbeat and our CORE Innovation Centre, underscores our team’s ongoing dedication to advancing technology solutions that empower industry leaders in Greece and beyond.
This year’s Industrial Production & Manufacturing Awards took place on Thursday, November 14, and provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence and innovation across the Greek industrial sector. CORE Group, as part of this dynamic community and a key contributor to the industrial transformation in Greece, was nominated in 5 categories in total.
CORE Group recognised as Leading Provider of the Year
The highlight of the evening was CORE Group’s distinction as Leading Provider of the Year, which recognises our continuous commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology and services for Greek Industry.
This is a major acknowledgment for our team of 70 employees and their concentrated efforts to deliver solutions that empower industrial operations and help people, industries and companies fulfil their true potential. We’re honored and look forward to building on this momentum.
Awards for COREbeat
The big winner of the evening was COREbeat, our end-to-end predictive maintenance platform, which earned two significant awards. In the Best Technology Systems for Production category, COREbeat received the Silver Award, identifying it as a cutting-edge technology which helps reshape industrial organisations’ operational models and facilitates their digital transformation journey. COREbeat is already being piloted with installations in heavy-duty industries in Greece and abroad, including EP.AL.ME. (part of the Metlen Group), EYDAP, Marini Marmi in Northern Italy, Terna Mag, MAXI, Halcor, and Calpak, among others.
COREbeat also secured the Gold Award in the Best Industrial IoT category, recognising the strength of a technology grounded in more than a decade of know-how in machine learning and predictive maintenance in manufacturing. COREbeat’s use of advanced Industrial IoT (IIoT) methodologies, machine learning, cloud computing, and edge computing has positioned it as a trusted tool for achieving new levels of operational efficiency.
Award for CORE Innovation Centre
The CORE Innovation Centre (CORE IC), our non-profit research and innovation centre, also got its moment in the spotlight, winning the Silver Award in the Rising Star category. Although CORE IC was founded recently, its impact is already significant, with over 50 European research projects funded by the Horizon program, a global network of more than 300 partners and over €24 million in funding. CORE IC is now the second-ranked private organisation in Greece for Horizon program funding, highlighting its position at the forefront of research and innovation.
Our heartfelt thanks to the organisers and judges for these awards and to our partners who continue to inspire us.
As we look towards the future, CORE Group is excited to develop new partnerships and deliver solutions that help drive progress across even more sectors in Greece.
CORE Group participated in a focus group workshop at HALCOR
Author: Maria Tassi
November 13th 2024
A successful Focus Group Workshop was held on 31st of October 2024 at the HALCOR facilities, in Boeotia, Greece as part of the CARDIMED project.
Participants in the workshop included representatives from CORE Group, ICCS, NTUA, HALCOR employees and managers, as well as regional stakeholders, enabling collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The CARDIMED project
CARDIMED is a project funded by the Horizon Europe Programme focused on boosting Mediterranean climate resilience through widespread adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) across regions and communities.
Our CORE team will develop a cloud-based orchestration middleware for efficient data handling across diverse sources, and also focus our efforts on industrial symbiosis through smart water management in the HALCOR demo site, using digital twin technologies.
The workshop aimed at promoting innovative solutions in industrial manufacturing, conducted in the context of Digital Solutions creation that offer tailored views for visualising information to non-experts, citizens etc., with emphasis on the Demonstration case of Industrial symbiosis through smart water management.
Workshop goals and objectives
The main objective of the workshop was to engage end users to gather feedback and prioritise the requirements, and consequently translate the business requirements of end user, HALCOR, to technical requirements leading to implementation of digital solutions and bringing innovation to the industry.
The workshop was opened by M.Sc. Efstathia Ziata (HALCOR), who presented the CARDIMED project and its objectives. Following her presentation, Dr. Ioannis Meintanis (CORE IC) gave insights on the digital twin solution, which is a replica of a physical asset that simulates its behaviour in a virtual environment, highlighting its role in supporting Water-Industrial Symbiosis within HALCOR's factories.
Dr. Maria Tassi (CORE IC) presented other Digital Solutions implemented as part of the HALCOR demo, such as the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) definition and scenario-based impact assessment interface, the climate resilience dashboards and data storytelling, the citizen engagement app and intervention content management and the NBS exploitation and transferability support module, highlighting their potential to enhance efficiency and sustainability in operations.
Notable contributors to the round table discussions included M.Sc. Katerina Karagiannopoulou (ICCS) and M.Sc. Nikolaos Gevrekis (CORE IC), who provided valuable perspectives on the digital solutions.
Impact on Industry
The success of the workshop lies in end users’ discussions on the various digital solutions, who provided valuable feedback and prioritised user requirements to be integrated in the Digital Twin solution. Their insights will be critical in shaping a final product that effectively addresses the evolving demands of the industry.
These innovations are set to significantly impact the manufacturing industry, by enhancing resource efficiency and sustainability. They will help optimise water usage and promote resource reuse across interconnected processes, leading to cost savings and reduced environmental footprints.
CORE Group’s collaboration with HALCOR
These technological advances will enable HALCOR to optimise its manufacturing processes and resource management in real time, resulting in improved operational efficiency, significant cost savings and reduced water consumption. By adopting sustainable practices, HALCOR can strengthen its reputation as an industry leader in sustainability and appeal to environmentally conscious stakeholders.
HALCOR is a strategic partner for CORE Group, with a collaboration extending across three more Horizon Europe projects, TRINEFLEX, StreamSTEP and THESEUS. As part of the TRINEFLEX project, HALCOR has integrated COREbeat, CORE Group’s all-in-one Predictive Maintenance Platform at its Copper Tubes Plant facility in Boeotia. COREbeat’s asset monitoring capabilities are helping HALCOR acquire deep monitoring insights and increase the availability, flexibility, efficiency and reliability of their equipment.
COREbeat, our all-in-one Predictive Maintenance solution, relies on the beatBox hardware component, pictured here.
CORE Group at the 17th Maintenance Forum
Author: Alexandros Patrikios
October 31st 2024
This year’s Maintenance Forum took place earlier this month.
CORE Group, event sponsor and longtime exhibitor, was there to discuss the future of predictive maintenance.
Expanding Predictive Maintenance with COREbeat
Dr. Nikos Kyriakoulis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at CORE Group, was invited to deliver a presentation, showcasing how COREbeat’s cutting-edge features can help manufacturers go beyond maintenance to see the bigger picture. COREbeat’s health monitoring feature can be used as a compass for data-driven decision making, in areas such as product quality prediction, overall power consumption, and the optimisation of production processes.
You can watch his full presentation below.
The CORE Group showcase
Conference attendees got to take a look at COREbeat, our end-to-end Predictive Maintenance solution. Stopping by our booth, visitors got to interact with beatBox, COREbeat’s hardware component, as well as COREbeat’s highly intuitive UI platform. You can find out more information about COREbeat here.
We also got to offer some insights into our ground-breaking research and innovation of the CORE Innovation Centre, through Trineflex, a key project transforming energy intensive process industries. Through this project, COREbeat has been installed at the EYDAP wastewater treatment plant in the region of Attica. You can find out more about this pilot installation here.
Stay in touch
A big thanks from the CORE team to the conference organisers for a very intriguing day and an insider look at the future of maintenance.
See you all soon.
The TEAMING.AI project reaches a successful conclusion
Authors: Maria Lentoudi, Ioannis Batas
26th September 2024
The TEAMING.AI project has officially wrapped up its activities, with a Final Review meeting held earlier this summer in Valencia, at the premises of Industrias Alegre. This meeting marked the culmination of 3.5 years of dedicated effort, showcasing the remarkable outcomes of this collaborative project.
Comprising a consortium of 15 partners from 8 countries, TEAMING.AI entered into force in January 2021 with the goal of increasing the sustainability of EU production with the help of Artificial Intelligence. The project has since yielded remarkable results, including more than 23 open-access publications.
Project overview
TEAMING.AI project’s aim was to make breakthroughs in smart manufacturing by introducing greater customisation and personalisation of products and services in AI technologies. Through a new human and AI teaming framework, the aim of our consortium was to optimise manufacturing processes, maximising the strengths of both the human and AI elements, while maintaining and re-examining safety and ethical compliance guidelines.
This was achieved through the development of an innovative operational framework, designed to cope with the heterogeneity of data types and the uncertainty and dynamic changes in the context of human-AI interaction with update dynamics more instantly than with pre-existing technologies.
Our CORE team led on the Dissemination and Exploitation Work Package, being involved in various tasks within the project framework to expand TEAMING.AI’s impact. More specifically, we led the project’s strategic management and replicability, as well as leading the dissemination and communication strategy.
Strategic Management & Replicability of TEAMING.AI
The CORE innovation team was responsible for the strategic management of the consortium, identifying Key Exploitable Results of the project and carrying out market analysis. Our work for this part of the project included:
Identifying Market Barriers: Our team conducted a market barriers analysis, based on input provided through a custom questionnaire. The project’s end users were surveyed, and the survey was also circulated to the ICT-38 2020 projects, increasing our end user sample. After completing the survey, we identified mitigation strategies for the barriers discussed.
Pains & Gains: We identified the most significant pains our end users face based on a unique research plan. The results of this part of our research were highly impactful, being included in Chapter 23 of the “Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing” open access book. You can find out more here.
Value Propositions: Our team identified the value propositions offered throughout the project, through interactive workshops with our partners to help us align the identified jobs, pains, and gains with the Teaming.AI Engine result.
PESTLE Analysis: A PESTLE analysis was performed to describe Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors that are related to Teaming.AI. Results show strong political presence to enable further scale-up activities of the project’s results. The uncertain economic conditions may influence investment decisions. The social factors indicate the need for more efficient activities and upskilling. The technologies are emerging and considered enablers according to Gartner. Finally, from an environmental point of view, results have remained a little stagnant according to the IPCC.
Market Replication & Analysis: As a final task, our team worked on Market Replication. The technology providers relevant to Teaming.AI were considered a possible segment for replication besides the project’s end users. A workshop was held with the project’s technology providers to determine requirements to address these segments.
Dissemination and Communication Activities
When it comes to dissemination and communication, the evaluation revealed a strongly positive outcome for our team’s strategy. CORE worked hand-in-hand with the entire consortium to maximize the project's impact and ensure the project’s objectives were communicated effectively to relevant audiences and stakeholders.
The project’s official website acted as its main communication hub, supported by a strong presence on social media platforms, the creation of various communication materials, including 11 videos throughout the duration of the project, the publication of 33 media articles, the release of 10 dedicated newsletter editions, and 11 press releases. These efforts were aimed at increasing the project’s visibility and public engagement.
TEAMING.AI consortium also produced 28 scientific peer-reviewed publications in top-ranked journals or conferences, attended 43 events delivering 38 presentations, promoted TEAMING.AI through 3 exhibit booths at key industry events, and organised one final conference. TEAMING.AI also joined the AI4MANUFACTURING Cluster and participated in 5 cluster workshops alongside 13 other H2020 and Horizon EU research projects to expand its impact.
A recording of the final workshop is available here for viewing on YouTube. Additionally, 10 more short videos introducing the TEAMING.AI concept and summarizing its research activities are accessible via the project’s YouTube channel.
The project’s website, designed and maintained by CORE, will continue as a central hub for useful information and resources. Visitors can learn more about important research activities performed and results through press-releases, newsletters, open-access scientific papers and public deliverables that can be found on the website.
The project has also shaped significant online communities, with more than 1.300 followers on LinkedIn and 900 on X.
The dissemination and communication activities have played a crucial role in ensuring that the TEAMING.AI project’s activities and results were effectively shared with both scientific and industry communities, as well as the general public.
