Astrid Heidemann Lassen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Materials and Production, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University. Her research focuses on Industry 4.0, manufacturing innovation, digital transformation, and knowledge transfer, particularly in SME contexts. She leads and participates in projects such as The Circular Factory - CIFA and Innovation Factory North , emphasizing sustainable production and workforce upskilling. Lassen has co-authored over 174 publications and received the Broman Foundation Scholarship in 2024. Her work bridges academic research with practical industry challenges, addressing topics like exoskeletons in construction, robotization of manufacturing, and barriers to digital transformation. She actively contributes to peer review for journals like Sustainability and Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management . Research Interests: Her primary areas include Industry 4.0 implementation, manufacturing process innovation, and the impact of digitalization on SMEs. She explores themes such as absorptive capacity enhancement, learning factories, and the integration of IoT and robotics in production systems. Recent work highlights challenges in adopting exoskeleton technology and the thematic analysis of robotization's societal implications. Publications Trends: Her articles (2023–2025) address Industry 4.0's challenges, SME digitalization barriers, and the role of learning factories in upskilling. Notable themes include heuristic models for innovation processes, pharmaceutical manufacturing insights, and thematic analyses of manufacturing work dynamics. Over 42 downloads of her 2025 Manufacturing Innovation for Industry 4.0 paper underscore its relevance. Grants & Awards: The 2024 Broman Scholarship recognizes her contributions to research and entrepreneurship. She coordinates projects worth millions in funding, including AddSmart (2022–2025) and CICMa (2025–2026), focusing on circular industrial materials and smart production systems. Labs & Collaborations: Engaged in cross-disciplinary initiatives like the Innovation Factory North , she collaborates with industry partners to design practical solutions for manufacturing challenges. Her work often involves case studies and thematic analyses to address real-world implementation gaps.












