Better Factory
Better Factory is an EU Horizon 2020-funded research consortium helping European manufacturing SMEs collaborate with artists and adopt Industry 4.0 technologies through the open-source RAMP IoT platform and APPS modular software suite, delivered free of charge via open calls.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersEspoo, Finland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Better Factory does
Better Factory is an EU Horizon 2020-funded research and innovation project launched in 2020 under grant agreement 951813, operating as a European consortium rather than a commercial company. Its mission is to help European manufacturing SMEs transform into cyber-physical, Lean-Agile production facilities capable of manufacturing personalized products. The methodology pairs each SME with an artist and a technology provider in Knowledge Transfer Experiments (KTEs), and the project operates two open calls to recruit these teams.
The core technology stack consists of two layers. RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace) is a free, open IoT platform built on FIWARE that serves as a one-stop-shop connecting SMEs to technologies, Digital Innovation Hubs, financing, training, and business advice; it includes a 3D simulation tool for Digital Twin virtual testing and an online co-creation space. APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling) is a modular software suite organized into four packages — Logistics Automation, Production Reconfiguration, Cognitive HRI, and Resource Optimization — covering 14 modules including pose detection, fatigue monitoring, person tracking, agent optimization, business process optimization, predictive process control, and a Superset-based dashboard. The platform is powered by partners including Fraunhofer, INESC-TEC, SUPSI, AIMEN, Gestalt Robotics, European Dynamics, and Top Data Science.
The business model is non-commercial. Funding flows entirely from the EU Horizon 2020 grant, with the project coordinated by VTT (Finland), dissemination managed by FUNDACIÓ BARCELONA MOBILE WORLD CAPITAL FOUNDATION (Barcelona, Spain), and open calls administered by FundingBox (Poland). There is no commercial pricing; technology, methodology, and support are provided to participating SMEs at no cost. Headcount is reported in the 11-50 band, spread across consortium members. Operations span at least 15 European countries via local cluster contacts.
Better Factory firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Better Factory
- Legal name
- FUNDACIÓ BARCELONA MOBILE WORLD CAPITAL FOUNDATION
- Website
- https://betterfactory.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Better Factory is an EU Horizon 2020-funded research consortium helping European manufacturing SMEs collaborate with artists and adopt Industry 4.0 technologies through the open-source RAMP IoT platform and APPS modular software suite, delivered free of charge via open calls.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Better Factory industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Manufacturing Technology Platform
- NAICS
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (334)
- SIC
- General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Discrete Manufacturing IIoT (Automotive/Electronics/Machinery) (IMAIAMAN)
Keywords
Where Better Factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Espoo
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Better Factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- EU Horizon 2020 Research Funding: Better Factory is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 951813. The project is a research and innovation initiative, not a commercial enterprise.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Better Factory product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better Factory provides a methodology and technology platform for European manufacturing SMEs to collaborate with artists in developing new and personalized products. It supplies technology through the RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace) IoT platform and the APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling) software suite, enabling transformation of conventional factories into lean-agile, cyber-physical production facilities. The initiative recruits SMEs through open calls to participate in Knowledge Transfer Experiments (KTEs) that pair them with artist and technology provider partners.
Product overview
Better Factory is an EU Horizon 2020-funded initiative that provides a methodology and technology platform for manufacturing SMEs to collaborate with artists and develop new personalized products while transforming into cyber-physical systems. The core platform is RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace), a free and open IoT platform built on FIWARE. The APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling) system provides software services organized into four packages: Logistics Automation (Logistics Library, Agent Optimization, Person Detection & Tracking, Person Movement Decomposition, Heatmap of Human Occupancy), Production Reconfiguration (Advanced Plant Model with Digital Twin Designer, Manufacturing Process Management System), Cognitive HRI (Pose Detection & Tracking, Fatigue Monitoring System + Intervention Manager), and Resource Optimization (Business Process Optimization, Process Optimisation/ProOpt, Superset Dashboard). These modules work together to enable Lean-Agile Production through Digital Twin creation, real-time monitoring, and AI-driven optimization of manufacturing processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace): A free and open IoT platform (FIWARE) running on state-of-the-art servers, with access to cloud storage and computing, enabling connection with robots, sensors, cameras, AR/VR, and other equipment. RAMP provides a 3D simulation tool to create Digital Twin for virtual testing, a co-creation space for teams to collaborate online, and serves as a one-stop-shop for Manufacturing SMEs looking to find technologies and services.
- APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling)
Products and services
- RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace) A free and open IoT platform built on FIWARE that serves as a one-stop-shop for manufacturing SMEs to access technologies, digital innovation hubs, finance, training, and business advice. Provides 3D simulation tools for Digital Twin creation and co-creation spaces for online team collaboration. Connects manufacturing SMEs with robots, sensors, cameras, AR/VR, and other equipment via cloud storage and computing infrastructure.
- APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling) A combination of software services grouped per package with hardware infrastructure for optimizing waste, energy, and resources. Enables Lean-Agile Production through technologies such as 3D-printing and Additive Manufacturing. Divided into four main packages: Logistics Automation, Production Reconfiguration, Cognitive HRI, and Resource Optimization.
- Knowledge Transfer Experiments (KTEs) Structured collaborative experiments that pair manufacturing SMEs with artist and technology provider partners through open calls, enabling SMEs to develop new personalized products and transform production facilities. Each KTE combines creative design thinking with industrial automation technology adoption.
Quantifiable outcome
- STARIOT project expected: Growth of Staramaki by up to 100% in 2 years; Production cost reduction of 60% to about 0.03€ per piece
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Better Factory
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Better Factory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability25 records
Feature11 records
Better Factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreProject Coordinator for Better Factory. Magnus Simons serves as Project Coordinator. VTT provides technical research expertise for the initiative.
- FundingBoxcoreOpen Calls Coordinator for Better Factory. Antonio Montalvo serves as Open Calls Coordinator. Manages the expression of interest process and open call administration.
- Fundació Barcelona Mobile World Capital FoundationcoreDissemination Manager for Better Factory. Manages privacy policy and website operations. Located in Barcelona with address at Roc Boronat, 117.
- RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace)coreFree and open IoT platform (FIWARE) running on state-of-the-art servers. Provides 3D simulation tool for Digital Twin, co-creation space for online collaboration, and one-stop-shop access to technologies, DIHs, finance, training, and business advice.
- Gestalt RoboticscoreSoftware and solution provider focusing on intelligent industrial automation. Founded 2016 in Berlin. Provides Pose Detection and Tracking technology for Better Factory. Uses AI for ergonomics analysis of labour processes.
- National Centre of Robotics (NCR/Nacero)coreSlovak University of Technology association for robotics research and development. Led by František Duchoň. Provides Agent Optimization module for logistics library. Responsible for internationally established development teams.
- SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland)coreSwiss professional university. Provides Fatigue Monitoring System (FaMS) and Intervention Manager for cognitive-enhanced worker monitoring. Led by Michele Fiorello and Vincenzo Cutrona.
- AIMENcoreTechnology provider for Person Detection & Tracking and Person Movement Decomposition modules. Provides computer vision solutions for tracking operators in shared robot spaces.
- INESC-TECcorePortuguese research institute. Develops Advanced Plant Model (APM) - 3D Digital Twin Designer for factory visualization and task execution management.
- European DynamicscoreTechnology provider for Manufacturing Process Management System (MPMS) and Superset Dashboard solutions.
- Top Data SciencecoreFinnish technology provider. Develops ProOpt (Process Optimisation) prediction model framework for process quality and efficiency optimization.
- FraunhofercoreResearch organization. Provides Heatmap of Human Occupancy solution for mapping human traffic in factories to optimize routes.
- CLUTEX (Czech Republic)minorLocal Cluster Contact for Better Factory. Petra Dufkova serves as contact.
- Bydgoszcz Industrial Cluster / Tool ValleyminorLocal Cluster Contact. Agnieszka Matuszak serves as contact.
- Transylvanian Furniture ClusterminorLocal Cluster Contact. Ciprian Morcan serves as contact.
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pécs-BaranyaminorLocal Cluster Contact. Gergely Császár serves as contact.
- Latvian Federation of Food CompaniesminorLocal Cluster Contact. Armands Lejas-Krumins serves as contact.
- ICT ClusterminorLocal Cluster Contact. Anna Naydenova serves as contact.
- TECOS Slovenian Tool and Die Development CentreminorLocal Cluster Contact.
- University of OuluminorLocal Cluster Contact. Eero Huttunen serves as contact.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Better Factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE: Industrial digital twin and manufacturing simulation platform. Overlaps directly with Better Factory's Advanced Plant Model / Digital Twin Designer and process-optimisation capabilities, but at enterprise scale with mature sales channels.
- PTC ThingWorx: Industrial IoT platform from PTC focused on connected devices, digital twins, and manufacturing analytics. Directly comparable technology stack to RAMP/APPS, with established commercial deployments in discrete manufacturing.
- Siemens MindSphere: Siemens' industrial IoT platform connecting machines and physical infrastructure to the cloud for industrial analytics. Same core IIoT-for-manufacturing space as Better Factory's RAMP, but operating at global enterprise scale rather than as a European research project for SMEs.
- Schneider Electric EcoStruxure: Schneider's open IIoT/automation architecture spanning connected products, edge control, and analytics. Targets similar manufacturing digitalisation outcomes as Better Factory but at enterprise scale with a full hardware-software stack.
- Bosch IoT Suite: Bosch's IoT platform offering device management, analytics, and integration for industrial applications. Overlaps with RAMP's FIWARE-based IoT positioning and targets discrete manufacturing customers.
- ABB Ability: ABB's portfolio of industrial digital solutions covering asset health, process optimisation, and connected operations. Comparable to Better Factory's Process Optimisation (ProOpt) and Advanced Plant Model modules but embedded in ABB's full automation offering.
Others
- Top Data Science: Finnish analytics/AI firm that built Better Factory's ProOpt process-optimisation module. Comparable as a peer in industrial predictive analytics and process-control AI for manufacturing.
- FIWARE Foundation: The open-source IoT platform on which Better Factory's RAMP is built. Not a competitor but a closely coupled enabling platform; FIWARE's roadmap directly shapes RAMP's technical ceiling and ecosystem reach.
- Gestalt Robotics: Berlin-based AI/software company that is an actual Better Factory technology partner (built the Pose Detection & Tracking module). Comparable as an industrial computer-vision and automation software peer, particularly in the Cognitive HRI space.
- I4MS (ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs): EU initiative promoting digital innovation for manufacturing SMEs — Better Factory explicitly displays the I4MS logo on its site, indicating direct ecosystem co-membership rather than direct competition.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Better Factory social profiles
Digital presenceBetter Factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Better Factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Better Factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Better Factory M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Better Factory
What does Better Factory do?
Better Factory provides a methodology and technology platform for European manufacturing SMEs to collaborate with artists in developing new and personalized products. It supplies technology through the RAMP (Robotics and Automation Marketplace) IoT platform and the APPS (Advanced Production Planning and Scheduling) software suite, enabling transformation of conventional factories into lean-agile, cyber-physical production facilities. The initiative recruits SMEs through open calls to participate in Knowledge Transfer Experiments (KTEs) that pair them with artist and technology provider partners.
Is Better Factory a public or private company?
Better Factory is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Better Factory founded?
Better Factory was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Better Factory based?
Better Factory is headquartered in Espoo, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does Better Factory make money?
One revenue line is on record: EU Horizon 2020 Research Funding.
Who are Better Factory's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE, PTC ThingWorx, Siemens MindSphere, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure, Bosch IoT Suite and ABB Ability. Others are Top Data Science, FIWARE Foundation, Gestalt Robotics and I4MS (ICT Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs).
Does Better Factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for Better Factory.
What industry is Better Factory in?
Better Factory's product category is Manufacturing Technology Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAMAN, Discrete Manufacturing IIoT (Automotive/Electronics/Machinery). Its NAICS code is 334 and its SIC code is 3569.