BEYOND4.0 · Project

Research on How Automation and Digitisation Change Jobs, Skills, and Company Strategies

digitalIdeaTRL 2Thin data (2/5)

Imagine every factory and office is getting robots and AI — but nobody really knows what happens to the workers, the tax base, or the companies themselves. This project gathered researchers across 7 countries to study exactly that: which jobs disappear, which new ones appear, what skills people need, and whether ideas like robot taxes or basic income actually work. They looked at real company data and historical patterns to give governments and businesses evidence-based options instead of guesswork.

By the numbers

research partners in consortium

countries covered (BG, DE, ES, FI, FR, NL, UK)

EUR 2,999,970

EU funding for the research

total project deliverables produced

UN Sustainable Development Goals addressed (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies across Europe are investing in automation, robotics, and AI without clear evidence on how these changes will affect their workforce, skill requirements, or bottom line. Governments face similar uncertainty about whether existing tax and welfare systems can handle mass technological disruption. Decisions worth billions are being made on assumptions, not data.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 22 deliverables including scientific analysis of technology's impact on jobs and business models, diagnostic and developmental tools for assessing digital transformation effects, and evidence-based policy options covering fiscal measures (e.g., robot taxes) and welfare approaches (e.g., basic income). The final output was a conference presenting consolidated findings.

Audience

Who needs this

Manufacturing companies planning large-scale automation rolloutsHR and workforce planning consultancies advising on digital transformationGovernment ministries responsible for employment and fiscal policyIndustry associations tracking the impact of digitisation on their sectorsTraining and education providers developing Industry 4.0 curricula

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Manufacturing & Industrial Automation

enterprise

Target: Mid-to-large manufacturers introducing robotics and automation to production lines

If you are a manufacturer rolling out robots on your shop floor and worried about workforce disruption — this project produced evidence-based research on how companies successfully manage technological transformation, what skills your workers will need, and which training investments pay off. The research draws on company-level data across 7 countries and 9 research partners.

Human Resources & Workforce Consulting

any

Target: HR consulting firms advising clients on digital transformation workforce planning

If you are an HR consultancy helping clients navigate Industry 4.0 workforce changes — this project developed diagnostic tools to assess how digitisation affects job quality, content, and distribution of work. With 22 deliverables covering skill needs, education, and training across multiple European regions, the findings can inform your advisory practice.

Public Policy & Government Advisory

enterprise

Target: Government agencies or think tanks designing employment and fiscal policy for the digital age

If you are a policy advisor trying to decide whether robot taxes, basic income, or social investment approaches make sense — this project evaluated these exact options with scientific evidence. The consortium of 8 universities and 1 research organisation across 7 countries examined fiscal and welfare policy alternatives for inclusive growth.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access these research findings or tools?

BEYOND4.0 was funded as a Research and Innovation Action with EUR 2,999,970 in EU contribution. As an EU-funded project, many research outputs and publications are publicly available. For access to specific diagnostic tools or detailed datasets, you would need to contact the coordinator (TNO) directly.

Can these findings be applied at industrial scale in my company?

The project generated company-level and EU-wide data analysis, not a plug-and-play product. The diagnostic and developmental tools were designed to help organisations assess their own situation regarding technological transformation. Scaling would require adapting the research tools to your specific industry context.

Is there any IP or licensing involved?

As an RIA project, the primary outputs are research publications, policy recommendations, and diagnostic tools. Based on available project data, there is no indication of patented technology. Most outputs are likely available under open access, though specific tool licensing terms would need to be confirmed with TNO.

How recent and relevant is this research?

The project ran from 2019 to June 2023, making its findings relatively current. It specifically addressed Industry 4.0 and digital disruption — topics that have only accelerated since COVID-19. The 22 deliverables cover workforce, policy, and company strategy dimensions.

Does this research cover my country or region?

The consortium spanned 7 countries: Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The research combined EU-wide, regional, and company-level data, so findings have broad European applicability but with particular depth in those 7 nations.

Who led this research and can I trust the findings?

The project was coordinated by TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), one of Europe's leading applied research institutions. The consortium included 8 universities and 1 research organisation — a purely academic team with no commercial bias in the findings.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a purely academic consortium — 8 universities and 1 research organisation (TNO) across 7 countries, with zero industry partners and zero SMEs. For a business looking for ready-to-use solutions, this means the outputs are research reports and policy tools, not commercial products. The coordinator, TNO, is the Netherlands' premier applied research institute, which adds credibility but the complete absence of industry involvement signals that commercial translation was not a project priority. Any business application would require significant adaptation work beyond what the project delivered.

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOCoordinator · NL
HELSINGIN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI
INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIOLOGYparticipant · BG
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DORTMUNDparticipant · DE
CONSERVATOIRE NATIONAL DES ARTS ET METIERSparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICKparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDONparticipant · UK
UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEAparticipant · ES
TURUN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI

How to reach the team

TNO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek), Netherlands — use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the right contact person.

Order a report on this consortium See NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to know if BEYOND4.0's workforce transformation research applies to your automation plans? SciTransfer can connect you with the research team and translate their findings into actionable recommendations for your company.

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