Abstract
Automation 4.0 comprises the latest technologies that enhance classic automation to communicate with machines in a connected manner and to enable more flexible and more intelligent automation in smart factories. Industry 4.0 has become a global trend over the past ten years to combine the benefits of automation with the needs for flexible production. This trend has reached, in addition to industrialized countries, also newly industrialized countries like Thailand, with the aim to strengthen the global competitiveness. In the ETAT project, partners from Europe as well as Thailand combine their competences to build up a network of so-called Smart Labs around Bangkok area and thus take an important step towards Automation 4.0 in Thailand. Using Thailand as an example, this work shows how industrially emerging countries can sustainably strengthen their qualification with regard to Automation 4.0 by setting up such networks of education and training centers. In addition to explaining the general architecture of the network, the specific characteristics of all six established ETAT Smart Labs are presented and discussed