On January 28, 2025, as part of the EU project Bridges 5.0, the Platform Industry 4.0 Austria and the “Work 5.0” initiative organised an event on “Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) on the Shop Floor.” With around 30 participants, the day offered expert presentations and practical workshops addressing the challenges and opportunities of diversity in the industrial sector.

Expert Presentations and Best Practices

The morning kicked off with contributions from both academia and industry. Julia Himmelsbach from AIT introduced the theoretical foundations of diversity and equal treatment. She emphasized the variety of discrimination grounds and advocated for an intersectional, evidence-based, and participatory approach in developing measures.

Setareh Zafari (AIT, Center for Technology Experience) presented CRANEium, a digitalization project for the remote control of cranes. The project not only reduced workplace accidents and long-term posture-related injuries but also created new employment opportunities for older adults and people with physical impairments.

Sarah Dober, Dieter Doczy, and Claudia Pekari-Krottmaier from Magna showcased their company’s D&I strategy and highlighted specific activities within their department. These included digital solutions such as Pocket Talk—a translation device for multilingual teams—and a multilingual employee app that provides barrier-free access to relevant information.

Sonny Rang, co-founder of Inclusion Indicators, underscored the importance of data-driven D&I management. She outlined the four key dimensions for successful implementation: Data & Transparency, Processes & Structures, Brand & Communication, and Culture & Values. She also stressed the value of piloting planned measures before broad implementation.

The final topic before the lunch break involved presenting funding programs. Manuel Saxl from the Federal Ministry for Climate Action introduced Diversitec, and Bettina Zidtek showcased the Demografieberatung Digi+.

Workshops: Developing Practical Solutions

After lunch, an intensive afternoon of workshops followed. In small groups, participants used Design Thinking and the Human-Centered Innovation Canvas to develop solutions to key D&I challenges:

• Facilitating career entry for young people with disabilities
• Promoting collaboration between blue-collar and white-collar employees
• Empowering women in technical professions
• Providing support for coming out in the workplace

The event highlighted how diversity and inclusion can contribute to a more resilient and innovative industrial sector. Lessons learned from this initiative could serve as inspiration for similar efforts across Europe, promoting inclusive workplaces and leveraging diversity as a strength in the transition towards human-centric workplaces and industry.