The French industry, particularly in the Grand Est Touraine region, is facing several challenges, including the adoption of new technologies and the attractiveness of jobs to young people, women, and job seekers. To address these issues, the UIMM Loiret-Touraine has launched an ambitious project to create a third place: an innovative and educational space designed to become a technological showcase and a lever for competitiveness for local businesses.
This project, titled “La Fabrique A Venir” and located at the heart of the UIMM Training Center in Amboise, aims to develop educational pathways for various audiences, while contributing to the digital transformation of the local industry.
The UIMM Loiret-Touraine enlisted the expertise of Audace to assist in defining the educational project and adapting it to the expectations of local stakeholders. After conducting a thorough audit, Audace worked on the layout of the space, from the structuring of the areas to the design of the mediation equipment.
A third place to accelerate digital transition
and reveal the talents of tomorrow.
To ensure that the third place meets the expectations and needs of the region, AUDACE conducted an audit phase with local stakeholders. This approach helped gather testimonials and suggestions from businesses, institutions, trainers, apprentices, as well as training and employment managers. Several objectives were then highlighted.
Support industrial companies in their digital transformation.
The first objective raised during the audit work focuses on supporting companies, particularly SMEs, in adopting digital technologies. Indeed, during the interviews conducted by Audace, local stakeholders emphasized the need for a dedicated space to showcase Industry 4.0, where technological advancements could be presented and demonstrated, highlighting their impact on productivity and quality of life at work. By deploying innovative educational tools, this third place will allow local companies to understand and adopt the opportunities offered by Industry 4.0 and enhance their competitiveness in the market.
Facilitating the training of tomorrow’s operators.
The second challenge in creating such a space concerns the training of future professionals currently studying in technological fields of industry. Indeed, these future employees must be ready to join industrial companies undergoing digital transformation. It is therefore crucial to train them in emerging technologies such as collaborative robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. This third place serves as a demonstration space for these technologies, allowing learners to access modern and practical tools.
On the business side, the audit also highlighted the importance of making this third place a space for networking and collaboration. Local businesses expressed the need to pool their communication and recruitment efforts in an environment conducive to showcasing their expertise—a central point for co-design among industry stakeholders.
From attractiveness to inclusion: improving the image of industrial jobs in a changing sector
In parallel, the audit revealed a lack of information and appeal regarding industrial jobs, particularly among young people and their families. The industry still suffers from an outdated image, associated with difficult working conditions, while in reality, it is undergoing a technological transformation and offering many exciting opportunities. It is therefore crucial to change these perceptions to attract new talent. By highlighting the sector’s modernity and the accessibility of industrial careers, the goal is to attract new talent to careers that are often unknown or misunderstood. The creation of such a space is an excellent way to present these professions in a concrete and innovative way.
Several initiatives are also being considered to attract young people and those undergoing career transitions. First, collaborations with educational institutions and the organization of events (contests, hackathons, etc.) will help raise awareness among middle and high school students about the modernity of the industry. Some discovery sessions of industrial jobs will also be offered to individuals in career transition through partnerships with professional training organizations.
One of the challenges of the third place will also be to highlight the diversity of careers available in industry and to demonstrate that they are accessible to everyone, including women, who are still underrepresented in this sector. By showcasing concrete examples of women succeeding in industry, the third place hopes to inspire more female candidates to consider careers in this field.
Proposing a flexible and inspiring space dedicated to Industry 4.0.
Located in the heart of the UIMM Training Center in Amboise, this third place benefits from a strategic location that allows it to leverage the existing human and technical resources on-site.
This third place is structured around two spaces and three educational pathways designed by Audace:
- A “Youth” pathway (maximum 2h15) has been designed to attract a young audience and show them that industry is synonymous with new technologies.
- A “Job Seekers” pathway (maximum 2h10) aims to attract job seekers by showcasing that the industry is a dynamic sector, open to all, and constantly in search of qualified personnel.
- A “Business Leaders” pathway will demonstrate the benefits of modernizing industries and convince business owners that integrating new technologies is within reach for everyone.
Demonstrations and hands-on activities will be offered to raise awareness and train the public in Industry 4.0. Among the technologies available, there will be collaborative robots (cobots), augmented and virtual reality, 3D scanners, composite 3D printers, IoT sensors, and ergonomic exoskeletons.
A multiplex room, equipped for meetings and demonstrations, will also allow these innovations to be presented in a dynamic and interactive way.
The 4.0 industrial third-place supported by UIMM Loiret-Touraine is shaping up to be a key facility for the development of the industry in Grand Est Touraine. By offering an innovative technological and educational space, it aims to address the challenges of attractiveness and digital transformation for local businesses, while training future talent and promoting industrial careers to young people and those in career transition. A forward-thinking project that, in the long run, should contribute to enhancing the competitiveness and appeal of the region. The success in terms of both the number and quality of visitors during its inauguration on September 16th is a strong indicator of the momentum this space is generating within its ecosystem.
