The Industry 5.0 Community of Practice: Plenary Session 2026, held on 20 March 2026 in Brussels and online, brought together a wide range of stakeholders to reflect on progress and consider the future direction of Industry 5.0 in Europe. Organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the event marked the second plenary gathering of the Community of Practice since its launch in 2023.
The session focused on taking stock of achievements while exploring how Industry 5.0 could further support innovation, competitiveness, and industrial transformation across Europe. Participants included representatives from industry, academia, policy-making bodies, and civil society, reflecting the broad and collaborative nature of the initiative.
The plenary session brought together complementary perspectives from key speakers, including Jason Pridmore and Steven Dhondt, SEISMEC project partners, alongside Siobhan O’Neill, who presented the project’s broader context. Together, their contributions offered a coherent reflection on the current state and future direction of the Industry 5.0 Community of Practice. Jason Pridmore considered whether the Community had fulfilled its initial mission or reached a point requiring renewal, highlighting both its achievements and the need for refreshed strategic focus.
Steven Dhondt complemented this by outlining future prospects, emphasising the importance of maintaining engagement and translating discussions into tangible impact aligned with industrial and policy priorities. Siobhan O’Neill, presenting the SEISMEC project within the wider landscape of Horizon Europe initiatives, illustrated how Industry 5.0 principles were being operationalised through ongoing projects, reinforcing the relevance of the Community’s work while pointing to the need for further scaling and integration across sectors.
WATCH THE SESSION: State of play Horizon Europe Industry 5.0 projects
Throughout the plenary, there was a shared recognition that the Industry 5.0 Community of Practice had achieved significant milestones since its launch in November 2023. It had successfully created a platform for knowledge exchange, fostered partnerships, and engaged over 300 stakeholders from diverse parts of the innovation ecosystem. At the same time, discussions highlighted the need to reinforce members’ sense of ownership and commitment to ensure the Community’s continued development.
The event combined plenary discussions with breakout sessions, enabling participants to exchange perspectives and provide feedback on future priorities. While physical attendance in Brussels was limited to invited members, the sessions were streamed online, ensuring broader accessibility.
Overall, the 2026 plenary session served as both a reflection point and a forward-looking exercise. It confirmed that the Community of Practice had laid solid foundations, while also underlining that continued evolution would be essential to fully realise the ambitions of Industry 5.0 in shaping Europe’s industrial future.
More information: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/industry-50_en