Successful Completion of the First Phase of HMI2MARKET Project – Launch of Phase Two Implementation

HMI2MARKET (https://hmi2market.eu/) project “Upgrading university entrepreneurial infrastructures for human-machine interaction innovations acceleration that foster inclusive employment, injury prevention and social wellbeing in labor-intensive industries” has successfully completed its first phase of implementation, establishing a strong foundation for the continuation of activities in the second phase.

During the first phase, a comprehensive capacity-building and training programme was delivered to academic staff and students, resulting in significant quantitative and qualitative outcomes. In total, 20 academic and 14 administrative staff members successfully completed training developed toolkits, while 75 students completed 140 toolkits in total, designed to strengthen entrepreneurial, technical, and innovation-oriented competencies.

The training programme was structured around six core learning modules, covering key aspects of entrepreneurial transformation, innovation ecosystems, sustainability, inclusive design, and human-machine interaction:

• M1 – Entrepreneurial Transformation, focused on strengthening entrepreneurial competencies based on the EntreComp framework and Lean Startup methodology.
• M2 – Entrepreneurial and Community Engaged Universities, aimed at transforming universities into innovation-driven and socially responsible institutions.
• M3 – SDG Compliant Universities, dedicated to sustainability leadership, institutional innovation, and measurable social impact.
• M4 – Setting up Shared Entrepreneurial and Research Infrastructures and Test Beds, addressing the development of collaborative innovation ecosystems, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable research infrastructures.
• M5 – Understanding Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity in Value Creation, focused on inclusive education, accessibility, assistive technologies, and equitable participation.
• M6 – Inclusive UX Design for Human–Machine Interaction in Industry 5.0: Robotics, AI, LLMs, and XR, providing advanced skills for designing human-centered, inclusive, and sustainable technological solutions.

In parallel, key activities included the development of educational content, student involvement in practical innovation projects, strengthening collaboration with industry partners, and upgrading university infrastructures to support innovation in the field of human-machine interaction (HMI).

With the transition into Phase Two, the project will focus on the further implementation and validation of developed solutions, intensifying cooperation with industry, organizing hackathons, workshops, and pilot activities, and enhancing the international visibility and exploitation of project outcomes. Particular emphasis will be placed on commercialization pathways, real-world testing, and ecosystem building.

It is expected that the next period will bring new opportunities for students, teachers and partners, as well as a significant contribution to the improvement of innovation, inclusive employment, injury prevention and social welfare in labor-intensive industries.