AUTODESK LIMITED

Their core work

Autodesk is a major design and engineering software company that brings digital design, simulation, and manufacturing software capabilities to advanced manufacturing research consortia. In H2020 projects, they contribute expertise in CAD/CAM tools, digital manufacturing workflows, and software integration for hybrid and additive manufacturing processes. Their role across projects centers on enabling the digital side of physical manufacturing — from robotic finishing operations to large-scale additive manufacturing machines. They serve as the software and digital design backbone in consortia that build next-generation production systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Autodesk's early H2020 involvement (2015-2016) was broad, spanning robotic surface finishing (SYMPLEXITY) and factory clustering activities around zero defects, clean factories, and robotics (FOCUS). From 2016 onward, their focus sharpened decisively toward additive and hybrid manufacturing — first with LASIMM and HyproCell combining additive and subtractive processes, then culminating in MOnACO's large-scale additive manufacturing using laser beam melting. The trajectory shows a clear move from general advanced manufacturing support toward becoming a dedicated digital tools provider for additive manufacturing at industrial scale.

Autodesk is deepening its commitment to industrial-scale additive manufacturing, making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects that need design software integrated with AM production lines.

How they like to work

Autodesk participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with a large software company contributing its tools and expertise to research-led consortia rather than driving project management. With 50 unique partners across 14 countries in just 5 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia (averaging 10+ partners per project). This suggests they are a sought-after industrial partner that research institutions invite to bring commercial software capability and industry credibility to their proposals.

Autodesk has built a broad European network of 50 unique consortium partners spanning 14 countries through just 5 projects, indicating they consistently join large, multinational consortia. Their partnerships likely include major manufacturing research institutes and industrial end-users across Western and Central Europe.

What sets them apart

Autodesk brings something few partners can: globally recognized design and manufacturing software that bridges the gap between digital design and physical production. While most manufacturing consortia include research labs and machine builders, Autodesk provides the software layer that makes research outputs usable in real industrial workflows. For consortium builders, adding Autodesk signals commercial viability and offers a path from research prototype to software-supported industrial process.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LASIMM
  Largest single project funding (EUR 770,745) — developed a large-scale machine combining additive and subtractive manufacturing in one integrated modular system.
• SYMPLEXITY
  Addressed the complex challenge of human-robot collaboration for surface finishing, combining Autodesk's simulation tools with physical robotic systems.
• MOnACO
  Most recent project (2019-2022) focused on large-scale additive manufacturing components, representing Autodesk's latest direction in industrial AM.