The FURN5.0 project hosted an Expert Workshop on 2 October 2025, bringing together leading professionals from across Europe to contribute to the development of the project’s upcoming Self-Assessment Tool — a digital solution that will help furniture companies measure and enhance their readiness for Industry 5.0.
The session gathered representatives from research institutions, business associations, consultancies and industry experts specialising in technology, sustainability, human-centric innovation, and resilience.
Opening the workshop, AMBIT presented the project’s progress and its five key outcomes. Three major deliverables are already publicly available on the FURN5.0 website:
- Report on Industry 5.0 in Europe – providing a theoretical and policy framework for the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0.
- Report on EU Furniture Companies’ Maturity Level – summarising insights from 170 European companies on their adoption of advanced technologies.
- Skills for Industry 5.0 Report – analysing labour market trends and offering policy and training recommendations for workforce adaptation.
Two further outputs are in development: the FURN5.0 Guide – 15 Applications, which presents practical use cases of Industry 5.0 technologies in the furniture sector, and the FURN5.0 Self-Assessment Tool.
The main focus of the workshop was the validation of the methodological proposal for the Self-Assessment Tool. This tool will enable companies to evaluate their Industry 5.0 maturity across four dimensions — Technology Deployment, Sustainability, Human-Centricity, and Resilience — and identify areas for improvement.
The tool is being designed as a simple, practical, and time-efficient resource for furniture enterprises. By completing a short self-assessment, companies will be able to measure their Industry 5.0 maturity and receive tailored recommendations for improvement, supported by examples from the FURN5.0 Guide – 15 Applications.
Experts participating in the workshop provided valuable input to ensure that the tool reflects the real needs and challenges of the European furniture sector. Their feedback will be integrated into the final version of the tool, to be completed later this year.
The workshop concluded with an open discussion on how to ensure the tool’s practical value for companies of all sizes. Participants highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between simplicity and depth, encouraging SMEs to engage with Industry 5.0 in a meaningful and accessible way.
Through initiatives like this workshop, FURN5.0 continues to foster collaboration between industry, academia, and policy experts, paving the way for a more sustainable, innovative, and human-oriented European furniture sector.
For more information visit www.furn50.eu.
