We are pleased to invite you to participate in the 2nd Workshop on Low-Cost Digital Solutions for Industrial Automation organised by Shoestring Digital Manufacturing in collaboration with the Institute for Manufacturing, the University of Cambridge. This follows the Shoestring Symposium on 1st LoDiSA workshop in September 2023.

The main objectives of the workshop are to foster innovation in low-cost digitalisation and digital transformation and to promote the research and development of concepts, methods, and technologies to be used for developing low-cost digital solutions for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in various sectors such as manufacturing, construction, logistics and healthcare.

This year's theme for the workshop focuses on Low-cost automation driving sustainability.

We invite contributions that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

- Low-Cost (LC) Digitalisation in Manufacturing, Logistics, Construction, Agriculture, Healthcare: Studies and implementations that demonstrate cost-effective digitalisation processes and technologies in these key sectors.
- Supply Chain: Papers that explore the integration of low-cost digital solutions to enhance supply chain efficiency and transparency.
- Sustainability: Research that examines how low-cost digitalisation can contribute to sustainable practices and green technologies.
- Role of Artificial Intelligence: Innovative AI applications that offer affordable alternatives for automating and enhancing industrial processes.
- Low-Cost Support for Big Industrial Technology: Strategies for using low-cost digital technologies to support or upgrade existing large-scale industrial technologies.
- Minimum Viable Digital Twins (DTs): Development and deployment of cost-effective digital twins that meet the minimum requirements for operational efficacy.
- Low-Cost Digitalisation through Industry 4.0: How Industry 4.0 can be leveraged to create affordable digital solutions.
- Low-Cost Automation and Control: Papers focusing on IoT architectures, cloud computing, distributed processing, and other technologies that facilitate cost-effective automation and control.
- Digital Transformation for SMEs: Case studies and methodologies for small and medium-sized enterprises embarking on digital transformation journeys.
- Software Engineering for Low-Cost Solutions: Approaches to requirements, design, development, deployment, and testing for budget-friendly digital solution development.
- Performance and Impact Assessments: Papers that assess the cost-effectiveness, operational efficiency, and broader impacts of digital transformation initiatives.
- Digital Security and Data Protection: Research addressing the challenges and solutions for ensuring security and privacy in a cost-effective digital environment.
- Digital Upskilling and Reskilling: Initiatives and programmes designed to equip the workforce with the necessary digital skills in a cost-efficient manner.