Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund and under the project leadership of the European Fachhochschule University of Applied Sciences (EUFH), a team from universities and business is researching the "future of work" and the changes or new requirements that industry is now undergoing, and will undergo in coming years, due to digitalization. Research is centered on small and medium-sized enterprises.

ESKODIA is the name of the research project. The acronym stands for "Development of Self-Organization Competencies in Digitalized Industrial Work Environments". It investigates the qualification of employees and the question of how best to make them able to fulfill new requirements in the age of Industry 4.0. People are at the center of the research. They should grow as well as possible into the changed world of work to help shape the world of tomorrow with digital support. The research results will ultimately be used to design training that is oriented on the needs of the future.

November 9, 2018, marked an important meeting within the project phase, as the start of the ESKODIA project began with the presence of all project participants during the kick-off event. In the meeting, the project organization was presented, and the project goals of all participants were specified. The results of the kick-off served above all to awaken and strengthen the motivation for common action.

"We're glad that we were able to win such terrific partners, who will help us effectively support small and medium-sized companies in their digital transformation," said Prof. Dr.  Ute Gartzen-Wiegand, who initiated the project together with Prof. Dr.  Michaela Moser at the EUFH. Included in the research team of the project, which will be supported with over one million euros until 2021, is AUT-TECH Fertigungstechnik GmbH, which works in the areas of automobile, aerospace, agriculture, medicine, and special vehicle construction. Also participating is the European 4.0 Transformation Centre, a spin-off of the RWTH Aachen university, which advises companies on implementation of Industry 4.0. In addition, the team includes Ph-Mechanik, a company active in the area of machine building, design, and prototype building; the LBBZ GmbH, which offers the complete spectrum of laser material processing and sheet metal processing and makes the StreetScooter for the German postal service, Deutsche Post, among other things; and the Deutsche MTM-Vereinigung e.V., which specializes in designing processes in production and logistics, services, and offices to be more efficient.