The European leadership and excellence in manufacturing are being significantly threatened by the huge economic crisis that hit the Western countries over the last years. More sustainable and efficient production systems able to keep pace with the market evolution are of paramount importance in the recovery plan aimed at innovating the European competitive landscape. An essential ingredient for a winning innovation path is a more aware and widespread use of ICT in manufacturing-related processes. The Pathfinder project investigates, in particular, the role of simulation and forecasting technologies as a lever to increase manufacturing performance and proposes the development of a roadmap capable to clearly point out key challenges for these technologies future development.Pathfinder project's objectives are:• to carry out an extensive analysis of the current framework and state-of-the art of the simulation and forecasting technologies taking into consideration main key players, industries and research initiatives;• to increase the understanding of how simulation and forecasting technologies can improve manufacturing performance and to develop an impact measuring tool;• to analyse current development and needs in order to identify possible gaps and areas that need to be further explored;• to identify technological challenges and drivers in line with the needs of the vision for the future of manufacturing;• to develop, with the support of experts, a reference document envisioning the advances for simulation and forecasting technologies that could also support the definition of further research streams in this area;• to increase knowledge and awareness about the use and impacts of simulation and forecasting technologies by fostering a cross-sector dialogue involving both potential users, experts and technologies producers.