I4S 2/2026: Learning Factories

In recent years, learning factories have evolved into central experimental and teaching environments in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They combine real-world production processes with digital technologies to closely integrate research, teaching, and industrial application. In addition to their role as training centers for skilled workers, they increasingly serve as real-world laboratories for science. This issue of Industry 4.0 Science examines learning factories as venues for exploring new approaches and technologies—whether digital assistants, cobots, serious gaming, or digital twins. Portraits of existing learning spaces in Germany and Brazil highlight methods and possibilities.

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