On April 20–21, 2026, partners of the VLF4EU – Virtual Learning Factories for EU project gathered in Aalborg, Denmark, for the 15-month transnational project meeting, hosted by University College of Northern Denmark (UCN). The two-day event brought together 23 participants representing the consortium’s research, education and industry partners, with the aim of reviewing progress across the work packages, aligning on upcoming activities, and reinforcing the collaborative spirit that drives the project.
Day 1 – Working sessions at the UCN Technology Campus
The meeting opened at UCN’s Technology Campus, where partners delivered detailed status updates on the work packages and outlined the activities planned for the months ahead. Researchers from UCN’s research centre then introduced the consortium to the UCN Industrial Playground, the institution’s onsite learning factory and a flagship facility for vocational training. The Industrial Playground offers students on UCN’s technical programmes an immersive overview of production processes and bottlenecks, addressed both physically, in a hands-on manner on the shop floor, and increasingly through digital and virtual environments. The visit provided a tangible illustration of the blended physical–virtual training experiences that VLF4EU aims to scale across Europe.
In line with the consortium’s emphasis on co-creation, the first day also featured a series of team-building activities. Developing effective virtual learning factories and the courses they support requires close collaboration across very different organisational cultures — research centres, vocational and higher education institutions, technology providers, and industry — and the exercises were designed to strengthen the working relationships that make this collaboration possible. Partners engaged with notable enthusiasm throughout the session.
Day 2 – At the Utzon Centre
The second day took the consortium to Aalborg’s historic port. Founded in 1476, the port has, over recent decades, undergone a significant transformation from a purely industrial harbour into a mixed-use waterfront combining residences, educational institutions and cultural venues. Among these is the Utzon Centre, named after the Danish architect Jørn Utzon, which hosted the morning’s working session.
With a view of calm waters, spring sunshine, and a brief appearance from a seal in the harbour, partners continued the discussions started the previous day, deepening knowledge-sharing across work packages and refining the roadmap for the coming phase of the project.
Looking ahead
The Aalborg meeting confirmed the strong momentum of VLF4EU as the project advances into its second year. With the pedagogical scenarios, the development of the VLF4EU digital platform, the structuring of the VLF4EU Alliance, and the design of Industry 5.0–oriented learning modules all progressing in parallel, the consortium is now turning to the consolidation of its first-year results and the preparation of upcoming milestones.
Particular attention was given to dissemination and outreach activities under WP7, including the preparations for the 1st VLF4EU International Conference, scheduled for 13–15 October 2026 at fieramilano Rho and hosted by 35.BI-MU, the Italian international exhibition of machine tools, robotics, automation and digital manufacturing technologies. The conference will mark a key public milestone for the project, bringing together the VLF4EU community and the wider European vocational education and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
