This year, the Hungarian Economic Development Agency (NGFÜ) organized Modern Factories Night nationwide event for the eighth time, which took place on November 8, 2024. The opening of the series of events was held in Eger.
The operations of strategic importance (OSI) for the 2021-27 programming period, commonly known as Pillars, aim to provide greater visibility for EU funds by widely showcasing the achieved results to the public. Every operational programme has Pillars. The Modern Factories Night took place within the framework of the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme Plus, as part of the Pillar project titled “Providing Targeted Business Development Services for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.”
The main goal of Modern Factories Night is to show how modern technology is transforming production, and to bring visitors closer to the industrial processes defined by digitalization and automation. At one of the country’s most successful corporate events, the participating companies could present innovative, modern and unique solutions that contribute to the successful operation of their companies. The event allowed participants to visit numerous factories for free, where they could learn about the latest technologies such as robotics, industry 4.0, and sustainable production solutions. As in previous years, there were in-person and online opportunities for joining and following the events. A record number of 106 outstandingly performing factories participated in the national program series. A total of 86 plants and factories welcomed visitors in-person, while 28 companies offered online visits.
Modern Factories Night took place as part of the MGFÜ’s key project, which is expected to significantly contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of SMEs by assisting their business processes. The MGFÜ was able to involve a record number of businesses, allowing thousands of visitors during the open factory tours to gain insight into the lives of Hungarian companies, meet employer and labor market expectations in practice, and, last but not least, personally meet dozens of SMEs financed by European Union competitiveness funds.
An important aspect from the supporters’ side is to bring the opportunities and results provided by the European Union as close as possible to companies and citizens, and in this effort, an event like the Modern Factories Night is an excellent opportunity, as it seeks to address the competitiveness challenges affecting all of Europe.
