Roboprep Wallonia – Pilot pathway to prepare wood-processing SMEs for robotisation

This pilot action will test, in Wallonia, a structured and sector-specific public support pathway to prepare wood-processing SMEs for robotisation, without directly financing robot purchases.
The pilot will begin with a light expression of interest process to select around 8 SMEs. Selection will be based on criteria such as: the presence of repetitive or robotisable tasks, a need for productivity gains or labour-saving solutions, the company’s motivation and readiness for transformation, the feasibility of conducting an automation diagnosis within the pilot timeframe, and the relevance of the company profile for broader policy learning.
The pilot will include:
1. selection of SMEs;
2. an automation diagnosis (identifying tasks, barriers, expected gains and feasibility conditions);
3. a support pathway combining workshops, site visits and expert guidance;
4. practical demonstrations in real or near-real environments;
5. an individual roadmap (priority actions, indicative investments, skills needs, deployment steps and financing options);
6. a final synthesis translating results into policy recommendations.
The test does not focus on purchasing robots, but on whether a targeted support scheme—combining diagnosis, demonstration, mentoring and investment preparation—can accelerate concrete robotisation projects in a traditional sector and inform future policy.
Its added value lies in its sector-specific and implementation-oriented approach. Unlike generic digitalisation schemes, it focuses on concrete use cases, demonstrations and investment readiness, making it particularly relevant for Walloon public policy.