LoDiSA 2025 Showcases Global Momentum for Low-Cost Digitalisation

28/10/2025

LoDiSA 2025

The third edition of the International Workshop on Low-Cost Digital Solutions for Industrial Automation (LoDiSA 2025) took place at the University of Cambridge on 23–24 September, bringing together researchers, industry leaders, and innovators from around the world. Over two days, the workshop highlighted the growing global movement to make digitalisation more accessible, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

This year’s event saw an impressive 131 authors from 21 countries contribute to the programme, underscoring the international reach and relevance of low-cost digital innovation. Leading contributions came from the UK, India, Mexico, and Finland, with accepted papers representing Europe, the Middle East and Africa (51%), Asia-Pacific (31%), and Latin America (17%).

The technical programme was both broad and rigorous, with papers exploring themes such as:

Cross-sector low-cost digitalisation – including manufacturing, logistics, construction, agriculture, and healthcare
AI for affordable solutions
Automation and control
Industry 4.0 pathways for SMEs
Minimum viable digital twins

In total, 29 papers were presented across eight themed sessions, covering topics from human–machine interaction and logistics technologies to supply chain traceability and affordable AI. These sessions provided valuable insights into how low-cost technologies are being deployed in real-world settings and adapted to meet the needs of resource-constrained environments.

Two keynote speakers set the tone for the workshop. Prof. Martin Steinert (NTNU, Norway) opened with a compelling talk on the role of low-cost technologies in prototyping and SME engagement. On the second day, Jérôme Faissat (Managing Director, PIL Membranes, UK) shared practical experiences from implementing digital solutions on-site and the challenges of workforce upskilling.

An engaging Industry Panel, moderated by Prof. Duncan McFarlane (University of Cambridge), brought together voices from Scottish Enterprise, Stewart-Buchannan Gauges Ltd, Bytronic Vision Intelligence, and Raspberry Pi. The panel explored how academic innovations can be translated into practical tools for industry, and the realities of working with low-cost technologies.

For the first time, LoDiSA introduced awards for Best Paper and Best Presentation. The Best Paper Award was presented to Antoine Dunand, Rufus Fraanje, and Jenny Coenen (The Hague University of Applied Sciences) for their work on a low-cost digital shadow dashboard for manufacturing. Cathal Hoare (University of Limerick) received the Best Presentation Award for his talk on service-oriented digital shadows in laser powder bed fusion.

Beyond the technical sessions, LoDiSA 2025 fostered community and collaboration. Delegates gathered for a drinks reception and formal dinner at St John’s College, creating space for informal exchanges and future partnerships.

LoDiSA 2025 demonstrated how far the conversation around affordable digitalisation has come. What began as a niche initiative is now a global movement, shaping the future of digital transformation across industries. The growing interest and quality of contributions reflect the increasing recognition of the importance of low-cost, scalable solutions.

We look forward to welcoming participants back to Cambridge for LoDiSA 2026, as the Shoestring approach continues to inspire innovation and impact worldwide.

If you are interested in finding out how your company or organisation can get involved in the Shoestring programme, or would like to know more, we would love to hear from you!