FORENINGEN MADE

Their core work

FORENINGEN MADE (Manufacturing Academy of Denmark) is a Danish industry association that supports the digital and green transformation of manufacturing SMEs. They operate as intermediaries connecting small and medium manufacturers with advanced technologies, funding opportunities, and scale-up programs. Their core work involves running accelerator and support programs that help SMEs adopt Industry 4.0 technologies, circular economy practices, and robotics solutions. They act as a national hub translating EU-level innovation initiatives into practical assistance for Danish and European manufacturers.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

MADE's early H2020 work (2016-2018) centered on digital acceleration — particularly the FIWARE ecosystem and Industry 4.0 market alliance building. From 2018 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward direct SME transformation support, with projects addressing circular economy, robotics scale-ups, and most recently advanced manufacturing training. The trajectory shows a clear move from promoting digital platforms to hands-on manufacturing transformation programs.

MADE is increasingly positioning itself as a one-stop support organization for manufacturing SMEs undergoing green and digital transformation, making them a strong partner for any project needing SME engagement and industrial outreach in Scandinavia.

How they like to work

MADE operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is consistent with their role as a national association that joins consortia to provide SME access and regional networks rather than to lead research. With 74 unique partners across 30 countries, they bring an unusually wide network for a non-coordinating partner, suggesting they are valued for their reach into the Danish manufacturing base. Their participation in both Innovation Actions and Coordination & Support Actions confirms their role as a bridge between EU initiatives and on-the-ground SME communities.

MADE has built a broad European network of 74 partners across 30 countries — remarkably wide for an organization of their size and role. This pan-European reach reflects their involvement in large-scale SME support and acceleration consortia that span most EU member states.

What sets them apart

MADE's distinct value lies in being Denmark's dedicated manufacturing industry association with direct access to Danish SMEs and their transformation needs. Unlike research institutes or consultancies, they represent the manufacturing community itself, giving consortium partners an authentic channel into the Nordic industrial base. Their track record across accelerators, circular economy, and Industry 4.0 programs makes them a versatile partner when a project needs real SME engagement rather than theoretical outreach.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ADMA TranS4MErs
  Their largest grant (EUR 316,726) and most recent project — directly focused on advanced manufacturing SME transformation, representing the culmination of their evolving expertise.
• RobotUnion
  A robotics-focused scale-up accelerator (EUR 274,875) that stands out from their typical SME support work, showing capacity to engage with deep-tech ventures.
• C-VoUCHER
  Extends their manufacturing focus into circular economy territory, demonstrating cross-domain capability beyond pure digitalization.