The YML Main Event at the 2021 World Manufacturing Week

The second edition of the YML Main Event took place on 21^st October 2021, in Cernobbio Lake Como, Italy in the framework of the World Manufacturing Forum & WM Week initiatives.
The event was a chance to present and discuss the different activities carried out throughout the year by the Young Manufacturing Leaders (YML) international network, as well as a chance to networking for Project Partners, YML members and other attendees. Specifically, Project Partners and City-Hubs’ representatives who travelled to Italy were able to join several other activities carried out during the Week from 18^th to 22^nd October 2021, such as the visit to Made Competence Center Industry 4.0 in Milan.

The Programme in a nutshell

The YML Main Event was organised in a hybrid format, including a selected in-person attendance as well as the live-streaming from Villa Erba, Lake Como. Besides the activities of the network, the initiative specifically focused on two core topics for the evolution of the manufacturing sector: Young Entrepreneurship and Gender Balance & Inclusivity.

The event was introduced by Prof. Marco Taisch, Professor of Digital and Sustainable Manufacturing at Politecnico di Milano and Scientific Chairman of the World Manufacturing Foundation, and Ms. Paola Fantini Director of Education at EIT Manufacturing. The Speakers highlighted the long-term vision of the network conceived as a powerful tool for young people interested in a career in manufacturing.

Followed by two insightful Keynote speeches: by Ms. Giorgia Munari, President of Gruppo Giovani Imprenditori dell’Unione degli Industriali della Provincia di Varese on the topic Young Entrepreneurs in the New Era of Sustainability and Digitalization, and by Ms. Carlotta Dainese, Digital Strategy & Innovation Lab Director at Prysmian Group on Gender Equality,Diversity and Inclusion in Manufacturing, respectively. Furthermore, young representatives of the YML local City-Hubs held two panel discussions, bringing their perspectives, experience, and ideas to the topics tackled by the keynote Speakers.

YML Awardings

The event was also the occasion to award the winners of the YML Contest for the 2021 WM Report for submitting interesting case studies on the topic Digitally Enabled Circular Manufacturing that were featured in the annual WM Report published by the WM Foundation. And the winners of the YML 3D Printing Innovation Contest during which members of the YML network designed and 3D printed innovative objects to be used in the every-day life.

YML representatives and Project Partners also attended in person the 2021 edition of the WM Forum devoted to Digital Technologies as Key Enabler for Circularity: Perspective on the Future of Manufacturing having the chance to interact with high-level Speakers and attendees from all over the world.

YML Network on the move

The YML Main Event and relevant actions were carried out as part of the YML TWO project, currently funded by EIT Manufacturing as part of its activities to foster innovation integrating education, innovation, and business creation initiatives.

Young Manufacturing Leaders (YML) is an international network of 18- to 30-year-old students, young workers, and professionals with a vivid interest for the manufacturing sector. The project, which kickstarted in 2020, is carried out by the World Manufacturing Foundation and other 8 international partners: Politecnico di Milano (IT), Technical University of Braunschweig (DE), Czech Technical University in Prague (CZ), Chalmers University (SE), Tecnalia, IMH (ES), University College Dublin (EI) and University of Porto (PT). Network activities are carried out at the local level by 7 City-Hubs based in the countries of the Project Partners but embracing all the countries worldwide.