The Production Systems Engineering Research Centre (CESP) is the main research centre in the Production Engineering and Systems Department of the Engineering School of Minho University. This research centre has actually 24 affiliated members consisting of 14 doctors and 10 PhD students. Apart from those affiliated members the centre also includes other 15 external researches, PhD and MSc students. The CESP human resources that we are directly assigning to I*PROMS are five researchers with PhD degrees as well as four PhD students. However, other members of CESP will participate in I*PROMS activities and contribute with the related research.

The CESP research centre is organised through four research groups, that cover four main scientific research areas: Industrial Management and Systems, Human Engineering, Economics Engineering, and Numeric Computation. The labs that are related to those scientific research areas are: LASAP (Automatic Production Systems Lab), Ergonomics Lab, CAD/CAPP/CAM Systems Lab, and Economics Engineering Lab. There are two new labs in the process of creation: LABVE (Lab for Virtual Enterprises and LABESP (Lab for Production Systems Engineering).

In June 1994 a group of scientists, heads of companies and politicians founded the Association for the Modernisation of Manufacturing Technology in Austria (VPTÖ). The goal of the association is to develop new integral/holistic concepts in the fields of research and development, design and manufacturing and to support development and application of new technologies.

For the practical realisation of its promising ideas the association has founded a company called Profactor, where 49 multidisciplinary scientists elaborate problem analysis and advanced/holistic solutions for modern manufacturing facilities in close co-operation with industrial enterprises. Profactor aims to help Austrian companies to participate in global trends and developments.

The innovative element of this constellation is the multidisciplinary and integral approach to manufacturing problems. Engineers, natural scientists, experts in communication and business administration work together in a close co-operation to find efficient solutions - with regard to time and costs- for the manufacturing process.

The innovative element of this constellation is the multidisciplinary and integral approach to manufacturing and production problems. Engineers and natural scientists - experts in chemical engineering, production research, simulation, physics and organisation - work together in a close co-operation to find efficient solutions - with regard to time and costs - for production and operation process. PROFACTOR’s characteristic feature is the scientific competence and innovation as well as the flowing together of a plurality of opinions and approaches.

One of the topics PROFACTOR currently is involved in is the application and integration of advanced technology within industrial enterprises. PROFACTOR is engaged in several national and also international projects.

The School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering at Newcastle University are a multidisciplinary school offering a wide range of excellent undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, covering topics from many facets of mechanical engineering. Research within the school is far ranging and encompasses the fields of robotics, bioengineering, engineering mathmatics, MEMS, smart materials, manufacturing plus power and transmission systems.

The newly formed Stephenson Centre actively promotes collaboration between academia and industry at a local, national and international level, specialist units within the centre include:
The Design Unit provides design, development and consultancy services to industrial engineering customers in the fields of gear technology and metrology, testing and failure analysis, medical instrumentation, and special machine tools.
EDC - Engineering Design Centre to improve engineering design for the cost effective and efficient design, manufacture, and operation of made-to-order products.
RCID - Regional Centre for Innovation in Engineering Design for the creation of a collaborative research and development environment in which Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can develop methods and processes to enhance product development and improve their business performance.
ISRU - Industrial Statistics Research Unit has a wealth of experience with industry especially SME's. ISRU's work is related to process improvement and production quality issues, dealing with uncertainty, safety and reliability. ISRU is one of the leading exponents of the use of Experimental Design for production purposes.