Other findings included:

•  Building a hybrid skills pipeline that merges ICT and production technologies is seen as an important priority

•  Greater certainty on the right to access different types of data generated by machines would be a necessity for machine tool builders to tap into new business opportunities

•  European machine tool production is growing slightly to a level above 24,2 billion euro in 2016

•  Exports will remain stable at €18,7bn

•  European machine tool production global market share is growing and exceeds 40% in 2016.