BRIDGES 5.0 MASTERCLASS: Building gender-equal workplaces: From vision to practice
2026-04-17 10:30 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Please note: webinar starting time is 10:30 am CET and 09:30 am GMT.

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The aim of this BRIDGES 5.0 Masterclass is to explore how the transition towards Industry 5.0 can support greater gender equality by placing inclusion, fairness and human wellbeing at the centre of technological and organisational change.

Moving beyond a purely technological perspective, the session will examine how innovation, automation and new forms of work organisation affect women and men differently across industrial and service contexts, with particular attention to persistent structural inequalities, occupational segregation and the visibility of undervalued work.

Through both research and policy perspectives, the Masterclass will reflect on the conditions needed to ensure that Industry 5.0 contributes to more inclusive and equitable workplaces, and will highlight practical approaches for embedding gender equality into the future of work.

Speakers

Armanda Cetrulo Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies

Valeria Cirillo University of Bari

Cristina Oyón SPRI – Basque Business Development Agency

Marta Dell’Aquila Centre for European Policy Studies

Moderated by

Laurène THIL HIVA – KU Leuven

Moderated by

Ylenia Curci Le Cnam

Book your place

This webinar is part of a series of Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses leading to the Final Bridges Conference which will take place in person on 2nd October 2026 in Brussels.

Upcoming Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses:

May 15 2026: VET and Industry 5.0

June 12 2026: Masterclass for managers: Good Practices/Initiatives in Industry 5.0

September 11 2026: Session on Identifying the big questions/challenges for the Final Conference

More about Bridges 5.0

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

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WEBINAR: Job quality in a turbulent era
2026-04-24 11:00 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 11:00 am CET and 10:00 am GMT.

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Webinar
This is a webinar and it will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. This webinar is part of the EUWIN and Bridges 5.0 programme of events.

This webinar is as an opportunity for a broader discussion on topics covered in the book ‘Job quality in a turbulent era‘. The timely book explores job quality in contemporary labour markets, investigating how rapid transformations such as digitalisation, the green transition, fragmentation and shifting demographics are reshaping the world of work. Presenting fresh perspectives and updated tools in the context of challenges related to gig work, AI, algorithmic management, multiple jobholding and the environmental crisis, it reevaluates the definition of what makes a good job in the modern era.

Stewart Johnstone: “What Is the Connection Between Employee Voice and Job Quality?”

Speakers:

Agnieszka Piasna European Trade Union Institute

“The Challenges of Understanding, Measuring and Improving Job Quality in a Profoundly Changing World of Work” Senior Researcher in the Economic, Employment and Social Policies Unit of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) in Brussels, Belgium, and an Associate Researcher at the Centre for Sociological Research at KU Leuven.

Stewart Johnstone University of Strathclyde

“What Is the Connection Between Employee Voice and Job Quality?” Professor of HRM & Employment Relations at Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde.

Book your place

EUWIN (the European Workplace Innovation Network) is a community of researchers and practitioners from business, public policy, research and social partner organisations. Its remit is to promote workplace practices that lead to simultaneous improvements in organisational performance and quality of working life for employees. First established by the European Commission in 2013, EUWIN is now funded and managed by a network of international partners.

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

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Photo by Canva Studio

Workshop: Human-Centric companies: Insights from real-world Industry 5.0 innovations – second edition
2026-05-13 12:00 - 14:00
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As Industry 5.0 gains momentum across Europe, the focus is shifting from technology alone to how innovation can better serve people at work. Human-centric transformation means involving employees in change, supporting skills development, and creating more inclusive, resilient workplaces.

Join the upcoming SEISMEC online workshop: Human-Centric Companies: Insights from Real-World Industry 5.0 Innovations – 2nd Edition.

This interactive session will bring together pilot companies and European projects including SEISMEC, AI REDGIO 5.0 and SkillAIbility to share practical experiences from real industrial settings.

Participants will explore:

How employees are involved in designing and implementing new technologies

Human-centric solutions across different industries

Ways companies build inclusive and resilient workplaces

Challenges faced during transformation and how they are addressed

With real pilots and honest lessons learned, this workshop offers a valuable look at what Industry 5.0 actually looks like inside companies today.

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BRIDGES 5.0 MASTERCLASS: VET and Industry 5.0
2026-05-15 10:30 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 10:30 am CET and 09:30 am GMT.

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Background

The accelerating green and digital transitions are reshaping Europe’s labour markets, production systems, and skill needs. Within this transformation, Industry 5.0 introduces a new paradigm that emphasises human‑centricity, sustainability, and resilience. Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems play a critical role in preparing learners and institutions to respond to these shifts while ensuring that technological advancements benefit people, industry, and society.

Purpose of the Session

This webinar aims to explore how VET systems across Europe are engaging with Industry 5.0 concepts and what practical pathways exist to integrate them into policy, curriculum, and practice. Through expert insights and concrete use cases, the session will highlight how VET can contribute to a more human‑centred, technologically advanced, and sustainable industrial landscape.

Session Highlights

European perspective on AI and skills: CEDEFOP will present its ongoing analysis of how artificial intelligence is transforming VET systems, shaping skill demands, and influencing teaching and learning practices.

Public–private partnerships for upskilling: A Netherlands use case will showcase the “Metrolines for Industry 5.0” model as an example of successful collaboration to support workforce upskilling for emerging industrial needs.

Learning Factories 5.0 in the Basque Country: Tknika will demonstrate how Basque VET is embedding Industry 5.0 principles into the system and how Learning Factories 5.0 are becoming catalysts for pedagogical, technological, and organisational transformation.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will gain:

A clearer understanding of what Industry 5.0 means for VET systems.

Insights into current European research and policy developments.

Practical examples of institutional and systemic innovation.

Inspiration to adapt these models within their own VET contexts.

Programme

10:30 – 10:35

Opening

Iñigo AraizteguiDirector of the Internationalisation Department, Tknika (Basque Country)

10:35 – 11:05

Industry 5.0, VET and AI.

Ralph HippeExpert in skills and workplaces, CEDEFOP

11:05 – 11:25

Use case from BRIDGES 5.0: Metrolines for Industry 5.0 for upskilling through public–private partnerships in the Netherlands

Anneloes van DelftProject leader, Platform Talent voor Technologie (Netherlands)

11:25 – 11:45

Use case from BRIDGES 5.0: Transformation of VET programmes towards Industry 5.0 through Learning Factories 5.0

Unai ZiarsoloResearcher at Tknika (Basque Country)

11:45 – 11:55

Q&A session.

11:55 – 12:00

Closing.

Iñigo AraizteguiDirector of the Internationalisation Department, Tknika (Basque Country)

Book your place

This webinar is part of a series of Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses leading to the Final Bridges Conference which will take place in person on 2nd October 2026 in Brussels.

Upcoming Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses:

June 12 2026: Masterclass for managers: Good Practices/Initiatives in Industry 5.0

September 11 2026: Session on Identifying the big questions/challenges for the Final Conference

More about Bridges 5.0

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

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Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

WEBINAR: Hard At Work. Job Quality, Wellbeing and the Global Economy
2026-05-29 11:00 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 11:00 am CET and 10:00 am GMT.

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Webinar
This is a webinar and it will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. This webinar is part of the EUWIN and Bridges 5.0 programme of events.

Social scientists now find that the quality of our jobs is one of the most important factors contributing to our wellbeing and health. But how has job quality been faring in recent years across the developed world? Is it fair to assume that, as economies grow, so the quality of our jobs will improve? Or are working conditions largely independent of how rich we are?

In his presentation Francis will introduce a wide-ranging review of the latest social science of job quality, as revealed in his latest book: Hard At Work. He will show what we know about how job quality affects our wellbeing, and then discuss the general changes that have occurred over the 21st century. He will organise this discussion around a framework of the seven dimensions of job quality: earnings, prospects, working time quality, autonomy and skill, work intensity, the social environment and the physical environment.

He will conclude with a brief discussion of what’s meant by a ‘bad job’, and then review some principles behind policy-making for better jobs.

Speaker:

Francis Green UCL Institute of Education

Francis Green is Emeritus Professor of Work and Education Economics at UCL Institute of Education. After graduating in Physics at Oxford University, he studied Economics at the London School of Economics, before writing his PhD thesis at Birkbeck College. The author of ten earlier books, and more than 200 papers, he has also worked as an expert advisor for the European Union, the OECD, the UK government and the Singapore government. His recent research has focused on private schools, and on job quality. His book, “Hard At Work. Job Quality, Wellbeing and the Global Economy” is just published by Oxford University Press.

Book your place

EUWIN (the European Workplace Innovation Network) is a community of researchers and practitioners from business, public policy, research and social partner organisations. Its remit is to promote workplace practices that lead to simultaneous improvements in organisational performance and quality of working life for employees. First established by the European Commission in 2013, EUWIN is now funded and managed by a network of international partners.

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

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Photo by Canva Studio

BRIDGES 5.0 Masterclass for managers - Good Practices/Initiatives in Industry 5.0
2026-06-12 10:30 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 10:30 am CET and 09:30 am BST (UK).

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The aim of this BRIDGES 5.0 Masterclass is to explore the role of managers in the transition towards Industry 5.0 by shedding light on how managers can support the technological and organisational change processes within their company, while ensuring worker involvement and securing worker well-being during the transition.

During this Masterclass, we will bring together researchers, experts, and managers from several companies to reflect on their experiences, highlighting potential pitfalls as well as good practices and initiatives that help foster Industry 5.0. The Masterclass will also focus on sharing tools and materials that could support managers and companies in the Industry 5.0 transition.

Speakers

George Metaxiotis Aethon

Kozell Williams Trygons

Martina Wolfgruber Infineon Technologies

View Infineon case study

John Roulstone KIRCHHOFF Automotive

View KIRCHHOFF case study

Moderated by

Karolien Lenaerts HIVA – KU Leuven

Book your place

This webinar is part of a series of Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses leading to the Final Bridges Conference which will take place in person on 2nd October 2026 in Brussels.

Upcoming Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses:

September 11 2026: Session on Identifying the big questions/challenges for the Final Conference

More about Bridges 5.0

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

Please share

Photo by Pixabay

BRIDGES 5.0 FINAL MASTERCLASS: Identifying the big questions/challenges for the Final Conference
2026-09-11 10:30 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 10:30 am CET and 09:30 am GMT.

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The path to industry 5.0 is shaped by diverse influences, not least the actions taken by companies to build human centricity in their workplaces, the variable role social dialogue in different countries, the drive for gender equality, the role of vocational education and training, and the changing nature of management and leadership. Each of these critical topics has been explored from diverse perspectives in previous Bridges 5.0 webinars (accessible at https://bridges5-0.eu/recordings/) but how can we join them up to provide actionable insights for company decision-makers, social partners, policymakers and other Industry 5.0 stakeholders?

To find the answers, join us from 10.30-12.00 CET on Friday 11th September for an interactive discussion led by a panel of leading experts and practitioners.

Speakers TBA

Moderator

Peter Totterdill Workplace Innovation Europe

Book your place

This webinar is part of a series of Bridges 5.0 Masterclasses leading to the Final Bridges Conference which will take place in person on 2nd October 2026 in Brussels.

More about Bridges 5.0

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

Please share

Photo by Vitaly Gariev

WEBINAR: Activating Industry 5.0 – the assessment tool for Competitive and Sustainable Growth
2026-09-25 11:00 - 12:00
Please note: webinar starting time is 11:00 am CET and 10:00 am UK.

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Webinar
This is a webinar and it will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. This webinar is part of the EUWIN and Bridges 5.0 programme of events.

The session will introduce the self-assessment tool developed within the PROSPECTS 5.0 project. The tool supports organisations in positioning themselves within the Industry 5.0 transition, helping identify strengths, gaps and priorities for action. It acts as a practical decision-support instrument to guide organisations towards greater competitiveness, resilience and sustainability.

Speakers:

Simona AcetoPROSPECTS 5.0

Anna ZmiievskaPROSPECTS 5.0

George MetaxiotisAethon

Book your place

EUWIN (the European Workplace Innovation Network) is a community of researchers and practitioners from business, public policy, research and social partner organisations. Its remit is to promote workplace practices that lead to simultaneous improvements in organisational performance and quality of working life for employees. First established by the European Commission in 2013, EUWIN is now funded and managed by a network of international partners.

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

Please share

Photo credit
www.kaboompics.com via pexels

BRIDGES 5.0: Final Conference
2026-10-02 00:00 - 23:59 | KBR Brussels (Panorama Room), Mont des Arts 28, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
From vision to action: Unleashing Skills for Industry 5.0

Venue:

Free to attend, in person only, maximum 100 people, first come, first served. Register now.

The BRIDGES 5.0 Final Conference marks the culmination of the project’s four-year journey towards shaping an inclusive, human-centred Industry 5.0 future. The event will present the project’s main achievements, including the proof of concept and business action plan for the Industry 5.0 Platform, and will formally hand over the platform to the Industry 4.0 networks as the main owners of the results.

The conference will bring together companies, social partners, policymakers and stakeholders to exchange lessons learned, showcase concrete outcomes, and discuss how to sustain and scale the project’s impact beyond its lifetime.

Participants will not only be informed about the project’s key outcomes but also contribute to shaping the Industry 5.0 Platform’s next chapter. Attendees will engage actively through polls, live demonstrations, and some of the topics will be selected by co-creation exercises during the masterclass series.

Keynote Speaker:

Judith Kirton-Darling industriALL

Judith is Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, representing manufacturing, mining and energy workers from 38 European countries.She was formerly a Labour Member of the European Parliament for the North East of England (2014-20). Before entering parliament, she was active for 15 years within the Labour and trade union movement, notably she was elected Confederal Secretary at the European Trade Union Confederation in 2011.

Programme: (in development)

Time

Session

08:45 – 09:15

Registration and welcome coffee

09:15 – 09:30

Opening remarksThe Journey of BRIDGES 5.0

09:30 – 10:30

Keynote by Judith Kirton-Darling (industriALL)

10:30 – 11:30

Session 1: Learning from practice – Companies, social partners, sectoral federations and workers testimonials

Speakers: Alexios Papacharalampopoulos, Unai Ziarsolo

Panellists: Tony Schroeder, Unai Elorza, Frank Krause

11:30 – 12:00

Coffee break

12:00 – 13:00

Session 2: Shaping the future together – launch and co-ownership of the Platform

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch & networking

14:00 – 15:00

Session 3: Interactive segment: Industry 5.0 workforce skills

15:00 – 15:30

Session 4: The BRIDGES 5.0 Project book launch

15:30 – 16:15

Closing panel: Sustaining the legacy and the Future

16:15 – 16:30

Closing remarks and coffee

More about Bridges 5.0

Bridging human & digital potential. Bridges 5.0 creates a unique consortium based on active collaboration between researchers, 8 EU industrial companies, 9 Industry 4.0 ecosystems, and the main EU social partners.

Practical information

Meeting venue
KBR Brussels

Mont des Arts 28 1000 Brussels, Belgium Panorama Room

How to get to KBR Brussels

Registration
A link to the registration form can be found here.

This conference is an in-person event only. Please be aware that participation is limited to 100 in-person attendees on a first come, first served basis.

Registration before 25 September 2026 is necessary.

Registration desk
The conference registration desk will be located in the KBR (near Panorama room) and will be open during the whole day of the conference. The staff at the registration desk will be pleased to assist you with all your enquiries.

Name badge
Everybody receives a name badge. Everyone will be kindly requested to wear this badge during all conference activities, as it is your identification and allows you access to the conference venue, conference lunches and coffee breaks.

Hotel accommodation
Hotel accommodation is arranged and paid for by you.

A list of hotels within an acceptable distance of the venue can be found here.

Travel arrangements
The travel arrangements are to be arranged and paid by yourself.

How to reach Belgium?
By airplane

Brussels National Airport is situated in Zaventem. Travelling to and from the airport is easy (see map)

For more information on our international airport, see https://www.brusselsairport.be.

More information about Belgium
Belgium is the best kept secret in Europe. This country is perhaps Europe’s most underrated with some of the world’s best beer and a national cuisine which consists of waffles, chocolate, mussels and French fries. Belgium’s attractions include the capital – Brussels – with its beautiful Grande Place and futuristic atomium; historic Bruges and Antwerp, a bustling port city and centre of the world diamond trade.

Belgium is Europe in a nutshell, multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland criss-crossed by canals, is proud of its great art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, numerous castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai.

See more information on https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium.

Mobile phones
As a courtesy to speakers and other delegates, participants will be requested that all mobile phones be turned off before entering the conference sessions.

Other practical information
Conference secretary: Inge Vanderwaeren HIVA, Parkstraat 47 – Box 5300, B-3000 Leuven Phone +32 16 32 31 35 Email: inge.vanderwaeren@kuleuven.be

Organiser: Laurène Thil HIVA, Parkstraat 47 – Box 5300, B-3000 Leuven Email: laurene.thil@kuleuven.be

If you should have some practical problems during the conference, please contact Inge Vanderwaeren.

We look forward to welcoming you to the conference.

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Photo source
Photo by KBR
