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Regional Innovation Monitor Plus 2015
Disclaimer
This project has been commissioned by DG Internal Market, Industry,
Entrepreneurship and SMEs
© European Communities, 2015.
The contents and views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the
opinions or policies of the Regions, Member States or the European Commission.
Copyright of the document belongs to the European Commission. Neither the
European Commission, nor any person acting on its behalf, may be held responsible
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errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1
Table of Figures
Figure 1 RIM Plus Survey Results .................................................................................... 3
Figure 2 RIM Plus Survey Results Differentiated by Member States ............................. 5
Figure 3 Industry 4.0 Platform, Germany ....................................................................... 9
Figure 4 Cluster of Excellence MERGE – System of Demonstrators ............................. 17
Figure 5 Alenia Aermacchi, Grottaglie ........................................................................... 20
1 See: RIM Plus Thematic Paper 1 “Mapping advanced manufacturing networks and exploring new business
opportunities”.
2 ‘Industry 4.0’ is a commonly used, collective term for novel technologies and concepts of value chain
organisation. It conceives a fourth industrial revolution through smart factories, based on cyber-
physical systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Services. In smart factories, cyber-physical
systems monitor physical processes, create a virtual copies of them and make decentralised decisions.
Over the Internet of Things, they communicate with each other and humans in real time. Via the Internet
of Services, internal and cross-organisational services are offered and utilised along the value chain.
(Kagermann, H., W. Wahlster and J. Helbig, eds., 2013: Recommendations for implementing the strategic
initiative Industrie 4.0: Final report of the Industrie 4.0 Working Group.)
other
De-‐manufacturing
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Most Pressing Need for Policy (and other) Support (by Member State Group)
Central Europe British Isles Northern Europe Southern Europe Eastern Europe
3.1.1 Origins
In Germany, the main national innovation strategy document is the High-Tech
Strategy. This was first launched in 2006 and the current New High-Tech Strategy
(published in 2014) features six priority areas, one of which is ‘The digital economy
and society’. This key task encompasses various fields of action, among them “Industry
4.0”. Already in the last legislative period (2009-2013), Industry 4.0 was one of ten
forward-looking projects. In 2013, a Research Agenda and Recommendations for
Implementing Industry 4.0 were published.
Industry 4.0 is also a key area of the German government’s Digital Agenda 2014-20173
that targets the active promotion of the transition into the digital era. The Agenda was
launched in 2014 and is the joint responsibility of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Energy and the Federal Ministry of Transport and
Digital Infrastructure. In this context, Industry 4.0 or networked production is
assumed to have significant impacts through its potential to reform and/or to redesign
value chains and its influence on Germany’s manufacturing sector. The German
government’s innovation policy and support focuses both on the digital economy itself,
and on implementing new digital technologies in companies, particularly small and
medium-sized enterprises, to enhance their innovation capacity. Research and
innovation in Industry 4.0 are supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs
and Energy’s funding programmes “Autonomics for Industry 4.0” and “Smart Service
World” (about €100m).
In its strategy towards Industry 4.0, the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research focuses on the following four fields: (1) The segment of small and medium-
sized enterprises, where, in order to “bring Industry 4.0 to the shop floor”, the
Ministry launched the initiative “Industrie 4.0 – Forschung auf den betrieblichen
Hallenboden”. Nine application-oriented research projects serve as examples of
implementing Industry 4.0 solutions; (2) Standards and IT architectures concerns the
definition of technical standards as reference architectures (see below – Platform
Industry 4.0); (3) IT security refers to the development of a reference systems (see also
programme IT Security); and (4) Qualification (cf. also programme ‘Innovation for
tomorrow’s production, service and work’). So far, the Federal Ministry of Education
and Research has published seven calls for proposals in order to support the
implementation of Industry 4.0. In total, the Ministry has approved about €120m
funds for research in the field of Industry 4.0 until now.
In order to further boost these activities and support Germany’s business sector in the
transition to the digital economy and digital workplaces, the New Platform
Industry 4.04 has recently been launched; its kick-off took place at the Hannover
Messe in April 2015. The new platform broadens the previous platform of BITKOM
(Federal Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New
Media), the German engineering association VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen-
und Anlagenbau e.V.), and the German electrical and electronic manufacturers’
association ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie) into an
alliance of members of the federal government, business associations (besides
BITKOM, VDMA and ZVEI, BDI (Federation of German Industries), VDA (German
Association of the Automotive Industry) and BDEW (Federal Association of the
Energy and Water Industry) are involved), trade unions (IG Metall; Industrial Union
of Metalworkers) and science (Fraunhofer Gesellschaft). The platform operates under
the leadership of the German Ministers of Economic Affairs and of Research and is
3 See: http://www.digitale-agenda.de/Webs/DA/DE/Home/home_node.html
4 See: http://www.plattform-i40.de/
The New Platform Industry 4.0 brings together government officials, business
associations, trade unions and researchers and is thus the key actor in Germany’s
activities for Industry 4.0. While Germany’s Digital Agenda targets the broad field of
digitisation, the new Platform and its activities focus specifically on Industry 4.0,
understood as digitally networked production. The core topics in this respect are
addressed by the new Platform’s Working Groups that focus on reference architecture
and standardisation, research and innovation, the security of networked systems, legal
framework, as well as labour and training. Further topics will be dealt with should the
need arise.
The new Platform is chaired by the Federal Ministers for Economic Affairs, and of
Education and Research. The Platform’s Strategy Group comprises representatives
from the Federal Ministries, the Federal Chancellery, the steering body, the federal
states, business associations, trade unions, and science. It is responsible for agenda
setting and political steering. Expertise and decision-making is the responsibility of
the Steering body and the new Platform’s Working Groups. The Steering Body brings
together business representatives, the chairs of the five working groups and other
guests for joint strategy development, decision-making, coordination and
implementation. The two Ministries chairing the Platform also participate in the
Steering Body.
As outlined above, the Working Groups tackle crucial topics related to Industry 4.0
and its implementation and their members contribute their specific expertise. Besides
the Federal Ministries for Economic Affairs and of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministries of the Interior, of Justice and of Labour are also involved. A Board
of Academic Advisers gives advice on the topics addressed. The new Platform’s
activities are coordinated by a Secretariat. Its main responsibilities are network
coordination, organisational issues, project management and supporting working
procedures, as well as communication, both internal and external (cf.Figure 3).
Source:
http://www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Economy/Industrial-policy/industrie-4-0,did=708234.html
3.1.4 Objectives
The German federal government’s pivotal goal is to support sustainable growth,
employment and welfare in Germany. Stable macroeconomic framework conditions,
sustainable and future-oriented policies are considered crucial in this context.
Important aspects include education, research and innovation. The High-Tech
Strategy bundles interdepartmental research and innovation activities, following a
holistic approach that combines target support with a focus on framework conditions.
3.1.5 Partners
Various actors are involved on the strategic, political, research, consulting and
implementation levels.
Between 2006 and 2013, the Industry-Science Research Alliance was the central
advisory board that accompanied and supported the implementation and further
development of the High-Tech Strategy 2020. It comprised 28 high-level experts from
the science and business sectors. The Alliance published various position papers and
recommendations. It outlined the next steps and conditions to realise core projects,
and the need to:
• scientifically support the process of transformation into a digital economy and
society and emphasize IT as a generic technology for all high-priority areas;
• encourage and support the use of digital technologies in production, and diffuse
the results of Industry 4.0’s Working Group throughout the relevant industry
sectors (Working Group established in 2012); and
• use Internet-based services for industry as a platform for new business models
(Industry-Science Research Alliance Prospect Study 2013, page 10).
In October 2012, the Working Group Industry 4.0 published its recommendations
on how to implement the forward-looking project Industry 4.0. Its final report was
published in April 2013 as a co-publication of the Research Alliance and Acatech and
is available at the platform Industry 4.0. The report identifies eight key areas in which
action is considered necessary: Standardisation and reference architecture, managing
complex systems, comprehensive broadband infrastructure for industry, safety and
security, work organization and design, training and continuing professional
development, regulatory framework, and resource efficiency.
Acatech, the National Academy of Science and Engineering, represents the German
scientific and technological communities and supports policy-makers and society by
providing evaluations and recommendations.
These aspects were addressed by the Platform Industry 4.0 in its White Paper (2014,
2015) that includes a definition of the strategic goal, the opportunities offered by
Industry 4.0 as well as the need for research and innovation both from a scientific and
an industrial perspective. These aspects will be continuously further developed. The
White Paper is also conceived as a contribution to future supporting measures of the
Federal Ministries of Education and Research and for Economic Affairs and Energy,
both with respect to R&D support and also concerning transfer activities.
Under the heading “Industry 4.0 by Design”, the White Paper develops five thematic
areas: (1) Horizontal integration across value added networks, (2) Integrated
engineering in complete life cycles, (3) Vertical integration and networked production
systems, (4) New social infrastructures at workplaces, and (5) Interdisciplinary
technologies for Industry 4.0.
3.1.7 Novelty
The genuine novelty of Industry 4.0 – understood as digital connectivity which leads
to the evolution of value added chains into value added networks – is the real-time
interlinkage of multiple actors that are closely related and jointly work on one product.
Referring to the New Platform Industry 4.0, the novelty refers to the involvement of
policy-makers, trade unions - whose core interest concerns questions related to work
conditions - as well as the external communication by the Platform that is based on the
joint internal definition of objectives and a joint understanding of Industry 4.0
4.1.1 Origins
Implemented since 2006 by the DFG (German Research Foundation) and the German
Council of Science and Humanities, the Programme “Excellence Initiative” aims at
consolidating Germany’s position as a science location, enhance its international
competitiveness and promote top-level research at universities.
Following a successful first phase 2005-2012 of the programme, the Federal and State
Governments decided to extend the Excellence Initiative from 2012 until the end of
2017. In total, the funding provided by the Federal and State Governments accounted
for some €4.6bn during the period 2006-2017.
As a young professor, Lothar Kroll (whose alma mater is the Opole University of
Technology located in Poland) had taken up a challenging task of establishing a large
consortium and coordinating the preparation of proposal that was submitted in
response to the call launched during the second phase of the Excellence Initiative.
Out of more than 100 proposals, 43 projects (i.e. 31 extensions and 12 new projects)
were selected for funding. Led by the Technische Universität Chemnitz (TUC), the
Cluster of Excellence MERGE (Merge Technologies for Multifunctional Lightweight
Structures) was among the successful bids. MERGE has become Germany‘s first and
only Federal Cluster of Excellence in the field of lightweight structures.
The Government of the Free State of Saxony took a decision back in March 2013 to
invest additional €30m to build a new research centre. The cumulative investment
taking into account the funding obtained in the framework of the Excellence Initiative
and provided by the Free State of Saxony accounts for some €80m.
4.1.4 Objectives
The main objective of the Cluster of Excellence MERGE is to remove the existing
barriers between various scientific domains and improve the resource efficiency of
manufacturing processes and products by combining different technologies suitable
for mass production, comprising plastic, metal, textile and smart systems.
4.1.5 Partners
The Technische Universität Chemnitz is a leader of the Cluster of Excellence MERGE
and more than 100 scientists, technical and administrative staff from 6 interacting
research domains are involved in this undertaking.
The participating institutes include 14 Institutes of TUC, 3 Institutes of Technische
Universität Dresden and 7 Faculties, in addition to three affiliated Institutes of
TUC(i.e. Cetex, STFI and KVB) 2 Fraunhofer Institutes – IWU and ENAS and Leibniz
Institute for Solid State and Materials Research – IFW.
4.2.1 Origins
Established in July 2009, the Aerospace Technology District (DTA) is an operational
body of the Apulian Aerospace Cluster. The DTA is a non-profit consortium
represented by the main enterprises in the aerospace field, the universities, as well as
the public and private research centres from Apulia. It is recognised by the Ministry of
Education, University and Research (MIUR, the Italian acronym) as technological
district and operates both in the national, international context to increase the
competitiveness of the regional productive system.
4.2.4 Objectives
The main objective of the DTA is to reinforce and consolidate the competitiveness of
regional aerospace industry. Among the specific objectives, which the DTA aims to
achieve through various activities are: increasing competitiveness and innovation of
SMEs, fostering internationalisation, reinforcing research and vocational training, and
contributing to the growth of aerospace sector.
4.2.5 Partners
The regional authorities and municipalities are actively involved in the definition of
the DTA Strategy. Several other actors play an important role, including trade unions,
and major aerospace and defence associations.
The Polytechnic of Bari, the University of Salento (Lecce), and the University of Bari,
together with Enea, CNR, and the consortia Cetma and Optel represent aero- spatial
research potential in the region.
It is important also to mention strong industry involvement. Shareholders of DTA are
four large-sized enterprises (ALENIA AERMACCHI, AGUSTA WESTLAND, GE AVIO,
DEMA) eight SMEs (CMD, SALVER, IAS, BLACKSHAPE, PLANETEK, ENGINSOFT,
SITAEL, GSE), in addition to the above-mentioned universities, national and private
research centres.
4.2.7 Novelty
The infrastructure for research, experimentation, training and integration of air and
ground systems are integrated into the Test Bed "Airport Marcello Arlotta of
Grottaglie" for the new aerospace solution (i.e. autonomous vehicle) which together
with the activities undertaken by the DTA member organisations represent a novel
approach in improving the competitiveness of the Apulian aerospace industry.
5.1.1 Origins
The foundation for the Chemelot chemicals cluster, now home to more than 160
companies and 6,400 jobs, was laid with the introduction of the ‘brand name’ in 2002.
Earlier, the area now known as Chemelot was the site of the Maurits coal mine (1926-
1967) and, until much later, Dutch State Mines’ chemicals and polymer divisions
(1930-2000). By the end of 2000, however, DSM launched the strategy “Vision 2005”
that led the company away from bulk chemicals and polymers in the direction of
specialty products in performance materials, health and nutrition, combining this
approach with further internationalisation. For the DSM’s Geleen site, this implied the
sale of DSM’s petrochemical divisions, which made up about half of its local activities,
to the Saudi-Arabian company SABIC in 2002. This divestment created a new
situation with now two major players on one industrial estate.
At the same time, it gave DSM the means to raise investments in life sciences and new
materials. In this situation, the name Chemelot was first introduced in 2002. After the
petrochemical activities had been taken over by SABIC, the remaining DSM units were
drastically reorganised in the ‘Copernicus project’ from 2002-2004. Research
activities were decentralised and activities of a more general nature, such as analysis,
were delegated to departments presenting themselves under own names, such as DSM
Resolve.
In 2005, DSM concluded an agreement with Sittard-Geleen, the province of Limburg
and the trade unions (concerned about the future of the site), with the aim to
transform Chemelot site into an open industrial estate for chemical production,
research and development. At the same time, a first master plan for a campus area in
addition to the industrial estate was presented and finalied in 2008. Hence, the year
2005 can be considered the starting point for Chemelot as it exists today.
In parallel, DSM continued to its remaining bulk production activities based at the
Chemelot site and concentrated more strongly on the development of nutrition and
health products and performance materials. In 2011, DSM’s synthetic rubber activities
were sold to LANXESS. Recently, in 2015, DSM sold its last remaining production
activities at the Chemelot site that does not fit in their new strategy for the future. At
this moment only 5% of the production at Chemelot is DSM. In the course of this
ongoing divestments, DSM’s supporting services (DMC) were transferred to a new
entity, Sitech Services, in 2009 the shares of which are held by the companies now
owning the main plants operating in the Industrial Park (DSM, OCI Nitrogen, SABIC
and LANXESS). Today, Sitech supports individual plants with services, such as
maintenance, and provides services to the whole site, in particular the company fire
brigade, the security department, the overall infrastructure and waste water
purification. The creation of Sitech Services prevented fragmentation of expertise and
ensured competitive costs.
After a process of four years of negotiations and shaping in 2012 DSM, the province of
Limburg and Maastricht University Medical Center+ founded the Chemelot Campus, a
separate initiative to bring together research, innovation, education and pilot and
miniplant production, in the field of performance materials, biobased materials and
biomedical materials, at one site that was at the same time close to large scale
production in the industrial park. The main goal of the province of Limburg is
economic growth. That of DSM is creating an excellent environment for researchers
and talent and for the Maastricht University is broadening education from alpha to
beta studies and being close to businesses.
While legally distinct from the industrial park, the Campus is located directly adjacent
to it and there are various interactions between them. In 2014 Chemelot Campus
became the Brightlands Chemelot Campus. Brightlands is the brand of the four
campuses in the province of Limburg. The Brightlands Chemelot Campus with its 40
At the end of 2013, the Chemelot campus saw the set-up of the Aachen-Maastricht
Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), a research institute of Maastricht
University (UM) and the RWTH Aachen University (RWTH). Since January 2014 the
Brightlands Chemelot Campus community is situated in “Building 24”, a former
factory now used as a central facility for more than a thousand researchers,
entrepreneurs and students on campus. In September 2016 the campus will open the
new “Centre Court” building that will host the Chemelot Innovation and
Learning Labs (CHILL), the Maastricht Science Programme Maastricht University,
5.1.4 Objectives
As a world-leading innovation location and home to a vibrant and fast-growing open
community of companies and knowledge institutes Brightlands Chemelot Campus’
ambition is to offer state of the art R&D and manufacturing infrastructures, on-
campus education, science-oriented business support, venture capital, and business
development services. Beyond effecting the relocation of companies to the site, it seeks
to create an ecosystem of start-ups, established corporations, public research
institutes, talented students, and visionary investors at the interface of performance
materials, biobased materials and biomedical technologies. It aims to provide smart
infrastructure and services including world- laboratories and research facilities, cost-
effective analysis and development services and all-round expertise – providing a basis
for the sharing of knowledge in a broad range of fields, and across different stages of
innovation processes and product life cycle.
From a regional development perspective, the province of Limburg is supporting the
attraction of further firms and the creation of jobs through the Brightlands Chemelot
Campus and its community. In line with this, the Campus’ current strategy envisages
that the number firms will rise to about 100, that of R&D employees to about 2,900
and that of students to about 1,000 by 2023. In early 2011, the Brainport 2020
programme was launched with the aim to convert the southeastern region of the
Netherlands into a major economic engine for the entire country. In this programme,
the Brightlands Chemelot Campus was one of two focal points of investment and
development, together with the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. For executing the
Brainport 2020 agenda in South Limburg, a specific entity, Limburg Economic
Development, has been established.
The Chemelot Community provides a wide range of facilities and services for
companies based at the site. While some basic utilities and services are obligatory,
such as the fire brigade and security services, most others, like IT and accommodation
facilities, are offers that companies joining the Chemelot Community are free to make
use of or not. If it sees fit, any Chemelot company can choose alternative suppliers.
These can be summarised as follows:
A. Facilities for Large Scale Production
The company fire brigade, the security department, the Swentibold co-generation
plant, steam plants, roads, railways, pipe ways, sewers and the waste water
purification plant all help to make the activities of the large scale production plants in
the Chemelot Industrial Park possible in the first place. Moreover, the Industrial Park
is an integrated site where (residual) flows are exchanged between plants. In late 2013,
work was completed on the Railterminal Chemelot, a consortium formed by
Meulenberg Transport, Ewals Intermodal and the Port of Antwerp. The new container
terminal contributes substantially to the modal shift from truck to train, reduces truck
traffic in the region, and is used especially by SABIC and DSM.
The good climate and culture of mutual exchange, collaboration and even co-creation
between the companies at the Chemelot Community allow each new company to
benefit from innovations that have already been tried and tested in other, yet related
environments. Additionally, new companies with fresh ideas can take advantage of
sophisticated processing methods they would not otherwise have access to yet need to
improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase profits.
D. Activities in the Field of Education
Around 2000, DSM had stopped all in-house training activities resulting in a shortage
of adequately trained personnel that increasingly presented problems so that, in 2010,
the Dutch government made funds available for educational investments. In 2012, this
resulted in Chemelot Innovation and Learning Labs (CHILL), in which Zuyd
University, Arcus College, Leeuwenborgh Opleidingen and Maastricht University
cooperate, basing their centre at Chemelot Campus. Today, CHILL makes an
innovative learning, working and research environment available, where education
and business cooperate in the development of knowledge and new products.
In addition to the Chemelot related “Maastricht Science Programme”, two further
master programs have been set up by University Maastricht: one for Bio-based
Materials at the Chemelot Campus (since 2013) and one for System Biology at the
Maastricht Health Campus (since 2014). Furthermore, Maastricht University and
RWTH Aachen University are jointly setting up a research Institute for Biobased
Materials at Chemelot, connecting with CHILL. Even currently, there are many
dedicated teaching facilities on the campus and many Bachelor and Master students
spend the last years of their courses exclusively there – and in the companies’
laboratories. For the nearer future, it is foreseen that both Bachelor and Master
courses shall be taught at the Chemelot campus completely, from the beginning.
5.2.1 Origins
Established in August 2013 with the financial support of the European Regional
Development Fund, the CHEM-STER Cluster has set out ambitious objectives of
becoming a chemical leader in Poland and turning Kędzierzyn-Koźle into an
innovative centre of chemical industry.
There had been some attempts made in the past to establish a cluster that proved to be
unsuccessful. This was due to the fact that the discussion was overly focused on the
financial aspects (notably the share of own funding) and not sufficient attention was
paid to setting out the core objectives and planning the activities to be undertaken by
the cluster members.
Taking into account this experience, the management of Institute of Heavy Organic
Synthesis "Blachownia" (ICSO) noticed a new opportunity for establishing a cluster
when a new call for proposals was launched. It is important to explain that the
objective of this new tender was to support the development of cluster initiatives and
only low level budget projects were eligible for funding. The adopted approach was
based on a completely different philosophy aimed at bringing together potential
members interested in cooperation and establishing a clear focus of activities to be
undertaken within the cluster.
This coincided with the fact that the newly appointed CEO of the Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Industrial Park (acronym in Polish KKPP) previously worked in the chemical sector.
Signing a contractual agreement has laid foundations and offered some stability for
building partnership among the companies from the chemical and other related
industries as well as key stakeholders from the science sector.
5.2.5 Partners
The KKPP has a role of the Cluster Coordinator, whereas the ICSO chairs the Cluster
Steering Committee. During the launch event, Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A. which is one of
the largest chemical manufacturers in Poland was appointed as the Cluster Leader and
currently continues to play this role.
Figure 8 CHEM-STER Cluster Structure and Organisation
FOUNDERS(
STEERING(COMMITEE(
LEADER(
CLUSTER(MEMBERS(
Altogether there are some 20 members of the cluster representing the main regional
scientific research institutions and chemical companies. The list of members is
presented below:
• Kędzierzyn-Koźle Industrial Park
• Institute of Heavy Organic Synthesis "Blachownia
• Azoty Group ZAK S.A.
• University of Opole, Faculty of Chemistry
• BELMAR Ltd.
• SOLVECO S.A.
• EUROL Innovative Technology Solutions Ltd.
• SITPChem
• ALCOR Ltd.
• Petrochemia-Blachownia S.A.
• RUETGERS Poland Ltd.
5.2.7 Novelty
The principle of the CHEM-STER Cluster is that each cluster member should be
treated on equal footing independently of its size and should receive adequate support
from other members of the cluster. This particular novelty is a distinctive feature from
other cluster organisations in which the agenda setting is to a large extent determined
by larger actors. Secondly, the cluster organisation is flexible and it is possible at any
time to exit the cluster if the member wishes to do so without providing with a
justification for such decision.
6.1.1 Origins
The decision to launch the Pilot Plant for De-Manufacturing of Mechatronics was
taken by the management of the Institute of Industrial Technologies and Automation
(ITIA-CNR) back in 2012. The ITIA-CNR and Politecnico di Milano collaborated in the
definition and implementation of this strategic project by bringing together
complementary competences and directly involving researchers of Politecnico in the
design and management of the pilot plant.
The initial investment (of about €2m) was co-funded by the National Research Council
of Italy (CNR) to which the ITIA belongs and Lombardy Region. The inauguration of
the Pilot Plant for De-Manufacturing of Mechatronics took place in June 2013 in the
presence of more than 200 stakeholders, including the national and regional
authorities, academia, industry and representatives of various relevant associations.
The ITIA-CNR has also secured additional funding for the improvement of the pilot
plant and for the related research activities thanks to successful participation in the
competitive-based tenders, notably the National Research Programme “Factory of
the Future” and in the framework of a new co-funding programme between the CNR
and Lombardy Region. Furthermore, the National Technology Cluster on Intelligent
Manufacturing (CFI, the Italian acronym) has also provided the funding for activities
related to sustainable manufacturing.
Altogether the overall investment accounts for the total amount of about €5m and on-
going project activities have a time horizon until 2016.
The Director of ITIA-CNR, Prof. Tullio Tolio, stimulated the researchers of ITIA-CNR
and Politecnico di Milano towards the strategic goal of realising a pilot infrastructure
coherent with distinctive competences of the two organisations to be included in the
Lombardy Smart Specialisation Strategy. A multidisciplinary team for the design,
implementation and management of the pilot plan was established and meets on
regular basis since its launch. The Pilot Plant for De-Manufacturing of Mechatronics is
thus the result of collective efforts of various people with different backgrounds and
competences.
Figure 9 Pilot Plant for De-Manufacturing of Mechatronics, Lombardy
Source: ITIA-CNR.
6.1.4 Objectives
The Pilot Plant for De-Manufacturing of Mechatronics and the corresponding projects
aim to achieve the three following objectives:
• to facilitate companies to acquire innovative technologies for de- and re-
manufacturing processes and automated solutions with the view of creating
economic value and addressing environmental concerns;
• to support research and innovation activities in the area of De-Manufacturing; and
• to support the development of advanced skills exploiting the paradigm of the
“teaching factory”.
6.1.5 Partners
The ITIA-CNR is the owner of the De-Manufacturing Pilot Plant and acts as the
coordinator of various projects in the area of de- and re-manufacturing. Politecnico di
Milano is the strategic partner which participated in the overall design of these
projects. It also plays a management function as one of the areas of the pilot plant is
under the scientific responsibility of Politecnico di Milano.
Around these two organisations, a wider community of research organisations and
companies participating in the various projects was created. Among the companies, we
can cite Magneti Marelli - specialised in the design and production of hi-tech systems
and components for the automotive sector; Candy Hoover - specialised in
manufacturing of white good products; Italtel - a leading company in Italy and many
countries worldwide providing products and solutions for networks and next-
generation communications services based on IP protocol. Also technology providers
of sensors and machinery technologies take an active role in the activities of on-going
projects.
Among research partners, there are other institutes of CNR such as “IMATI-Institute
for Applied Mathematics and Information Technologies” “IREA- Institute for
Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment”, “IENI- Institute for Energetics and
Interphases”, “IMCB-Institute for composite and biomedical materials”, “ITC-
Construction technologies institute”, “IEIIT- Institute of Electronics, Computer and
Telecommunication Engineering”, as well as other Italian universities such as
“University of Parma”, “University of Cagliari” and “University of L’Aquila”.
The focus of activities that are undertaken in the scope of the research domain ‘Robot
systems’ is on the development of flexible automated disassembly systems
cooperating with humans suitable for mechatronic products, which are made of
mechanical and electronic components.
Within the next research domain ‘Micro elements disassembly and
reassembly’ activities are concentrated on the processing of single electronic
components for remanufacturing purpose or for separating single components that
present high concentration of valuable materials for selective shredding or trading in
the market. Due to the fact that products are different, activities involve the
development of specific micro disassembly technologies tailored at a concrete product
and/or a group of products.
The domain ‘Integrated flexible automation’ entails the development of
automation and control solutions able to optimize De-Manufacturing factory
processes, also from the energetic point of view, considering the entire process chain
(disassembly, remanufacturing and pre-treatments) as integrated and, at the same
time, the intrinsic variability and unpredictability of waste or defective input products.
Within the next research domain ‘Mechanical pre-treatment’, the activities relate
to technologies and automation for shredding and materials separation before the
phase of chemical treatment of transformed substances, which involves other
technologies and know-how external to ITIA-CNR.
Figure 10 Figure Mechanical Pre-Treatment Facility, Lombardy
Source: ITIA-CNR.
The activities on ‘Virtual reality and digital simulation’ allows companies to
gain competitive advantages by deploying improved manufacturing processes and
management solutions building and integrating virtual and real factory models.
Finally, the research domain ‘Business models’ aims at defining new product-
service business models and strategies that are economically viable while at the same
time environmentally and socially sustainable.
7.1.1 Origins
Relevant research in printed electronics has been performed by Linköping University
since the early 1980s and with greater vigour and visibility since the 1990s. At LiU,
organic electronics originates in two different departments at the technological
faculty: the Department of Surface Physics and Chemistry and the Department of
Applied Physics. The departments often carry out combined research. LiU also has a
long tradition in the field of science of materials. All of these departments are engaged
in organic electronics in different and complementary ways.
A first initiative around this particular competence in the Östergötland region were
started with the PEALLA project (Paper Electronics at LiU and the Research
Institute Acreo). As at the time, the electronics industry was not interested and close
to giving up on the new field of research, the initiative prioritized the paper industry.
PEALLA, was a joint project financed by VINNOVA, and the private multinational
companies AGFA-Gevaert, MReal, ITAB, SCA, StoraEnso and Tetra Pak. Also there
was the COIN project, accepted by NRDF in 2000. Activities related that project
included among others a national conference, and approximately 50 company visits
for Acreo. COIN also coordinated applications for two major national grants with a
total of 15m SEK. Further projects included EC Paper, started in 2004 with a 3m SEK
volume from NRDF, VINNOVA, and Sparbankstiftelsen Alfa. In short, the PEA
initiative could already draw on a dense network of personal relations and history of
joint work when PEA Manufacturing was set up in its current form in 2008.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, however, most projects remained visionary and
oriented strongly towards basic research. This changed when the PEA Manufacturing
environment was set up in 2008 and Acreo started to work more consciously and pro-
actively with business partners of different types, including those from abroad. Even in
the 2011 mid-term review of the projects VINNVÄXT component, however, did the
reviewers feel that its overall orientation remained too research oriented and not
focused enough on the by then evident challenges of commercialisation. With a new
management and strategy in place since 2011, however, the past four years have seen a
substantial turnaround in precisely this regard.
Today, PEA-Manufacturing is Sweden’s leading test environment for the production of
printed electronics, competitive internationally, and joined actively by small and large
companies from various countries worldwide. Hence, the current VINNOVA project
supporting the PEA Manufacturing environment will be continued with a new support
phase starting in August 2015 after the first one ended early 2015.
Furthermore, the Printed Electronics Arena has been selected as a model for future
development of key enabling technologies in the European Union. The printed
electronics arena is one of only four “Pilot Line Demonstrator” projects Europe-wide
that have been selected for the European Commission pilot program starting in 2014.
Since that time, experiences and lessons learnt in the Printed Electronics Arena have
been presented in workshops and reports, increased its international visibility and
lead to additional opportunities of becoming involved in Horizon 2020.
7.1.4 Objectives
From a technological prospective, new materials such as electrical conductors and
semiconductors in the form of plastics (polymers), have made it possible to produce
electronic “ink” that can then be used to draw electronic components and circuits on to
paper or plastic. This key invention, made about 2-3 decade ago, remains the core of
all innovation in the field of Printed Electronics and the development of new
applications on their basis. Today, the process of drawing electronic circuits of various
kinds can be automated by using printers (e.g. inkjet printers) or printing presses, and
developed towards a process for mass production for various types of printed
electronic components that, formerly, had to be assembled in a traditional sense.
Today, the field is undergoing rapid development in research and commercialisation
and it is PEA’s prime objective to further promote it. Research and development in
Acreo Swedish ICT and Linköping University remains world leading and the Printed
Electronics Arena seeks to leverage this potential for the Östergötland region.
Beyond the PEA Manufacturing demonstrator, the Printed Electronics Arena therefore
aims to create a regional network with a view to various aspects of Printed Electronics
that provides participating companies with the opportunity to exchange experiences
and make use of existing research. At the same time, it seeks to inspire growth and
innovation based on joint activities in the cooperative PEA Manufacturing
environment which brings together researchers from firms with those of Acreo
Swedish ICT (that owns and the facility) and Linköping University, often in joint
offices under the same roof. Thus, it seeks to establish a Triple Helix partnership based
on scientific excellence, knowledge exchange and natural interactions between firms,
university and public research. Actual cooperation in joint teams or at least in close
vicinity to each other gives R&D activities in the PEA Manufacturing environment a
7.1.5 Partners
As outlined above, the Printed Electronics Arena must on the one hand be seen as
larger than the PEA Manufacturing demonstrator and on the other as larger as the
project core supported by VINNOVA.
With a view to the core project, Linköping University, Acreo Swedish ICT and
Norrköping Science Parks are consortial partners on equal terms, receive similar
amounts of funding and jointly establish and maintain the organisational framework
of the Printed Electronics Arena. Additionally, much of the money contributed by
industrial partners is invested into specific, in part bilateral projects in which Acreo
typically takes a larger share than the other partners. Other than the above figures
suggest, Acreo thus states on their homepage that only one third of project activities
are financed by VINNOVA, two thirds come from Norrköping and Katrineholm
municipalities, Acreo, Linköping University and Norrköping Science Park.
In a broader sense, the PEA network was established for the market participants
within the municipality, university and private sector – as well as for international
firms in the printed electronics field. On the practical side, research conducted at
Linköping University and Acreo Swedish ICT is the driving force behind the
operations and further development of the PEA Manufacturing test environment, with
Norrköping Science Park taking a role as supportive host.
As an incubator PEA Manufacturing is open to anyone that would like to test printed
electronics in their products and processes; start-up companies as well as established
companies, universities and institutes in Sweden and the rest of the world alike.
Effectively, this opportunity is being used by larger firms from across the European
market as well as the United States. Even U.S. spin-offs have started to collaborate
with the PEA Manufacturing environment.
7.1.7 Novelty
The field of printed electronics has moved quickly from research vision to concrete
products in the past two decades. Even today, the available technological platform
includes a multitude of components ranging from transistors, conductors, resistances,
displays and push buttons to batteries and antennas. All these components can and
will be printed on the next generations of packaging materials just as naturally as
standard printing is used today. Printed electronics adds intelligence to packaging and
products which goes beyond a traditional understanding of electronics. Applications
like hidden electronic codes indicating authenticity, transport loggers recording
product conditions on an individual basis, timer functions to guarantee freshness,
thermometers on chilled products, displays and/or interactive messages to increase
sales or provide important information about a product and medicine packaging that
provide information as to when it has been taken open entirely new avenues of for the
development of solutions for both everyday life and industrial applications.
Consequently, the range of topics that research and product development consortia
can address under the heading of printed electronics are by definition large. In the
case of PEA Manufacturing, Acreo has put together an offering in two of the most
advanced research areas in terms of maturity. PaperDisplay™ manufactures and
sells low cost displays printed on paper substrates for applications in smart labels,
smart packaging, etc., WebShape produces patterned laminated foils with a new,
patented production method. Overall, the design of the PEA Manufacturing
environment may thus not be organisationally unique worldwide, but according to its
management it constitutes the only place where the availability of this type of
environment is offered for specific topics in printed electronics.
Hence, the overall PEA project is conceptually “novel” and “distinctive” in a double
sense. On the one hand, historically, as it started to address an emerging topic before it
even became an emerging industry – putting itself in a pole position to accompany it
on its way of becoming one. On the other hand, thematically, as it has more recently
been successful in developing a clear profile and focus on specific areas of expertise
that other initiatives have not yet come to master to the same extent.
Source:
http://www.mkpl.eu/fileadmin/site/bestanden/final/1_Tommy Hîglund_Technology
validation in a common Pilot production.pdf
8.1.1 Origins
In 2007, the set up of two pioneering institutes in the field of plastics technology laid
the foundations for what has become one of the largest and scientifically leading
research and training environments for polymer technology in Europe. Eights years
ago, the two institutes “Chemistry of Polymers” and “Polymer Sciences” were founded
at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz. Their set up formed the basis for the
development of the dedicated academic programme “Plastics Technology and Polymer
Chemistry“ and only two years later, in the winter term 2009, the first students started
to attend Bachelor courses in plastics technology.
As plastics technology can be considered a relevant material of the future, the decision
to establish a whole academic programme on its basis has been taken consciously with
the ambition to influence the strategic orientation of the Johannes Kepler University
(JKU Linz). It was backed up with significant support of the Austrian Federal
Government and the Federal State of Upper Austria (> €10 m), as well as supported
through strong contributions from local industry (> €7m).
In May 2013, the establishment of the JKU Polymer Technology Centre was another
milestone within the thematic field of polymer science: The JKU Polymer Technology
Centre offers several laboratories and technical facilities that are equipped with the
most modern plastics technology processing equipment, measuring instruments and
testing equipment. A total of €10m was invested in the equipment infrastructure.
Additionally, the university’s general infrastructure, such as offices, computer
workstations, seminar rooms and lecture halls, correspond to modern requirements.
8.1.4 Objectives
With the increased focus on plastics engineering that the JKU Linz has developed
based on the activities of the Polymer Technology Centre, it has further expanded its
profile as a technically-oriented university which in turn contributes to strengthening
Upper Austria as a research location. The increasing involvement of the economy and
the rising student numbers in the new study programme illustrate that the newly
conceived offers correspond to a local demand.
In the Polymer Technology Centre, young students receive training of the highest
quality in technology areas that are in high demand today and will likely be more so
during the next decade. Beyond high quality courses, the centre’s strong network of
collaborations between science and industry has been decisive in making the academic
8.1.5 Partners
Today the JKU Polymer Technology Centre plays the central role in the organisation of
the academic programme “Plastics Technology” and in developing Upper Austria as a
leading business location in the field of plastics technology.
In detail, the academic program is anchored in the activities of four institutes of the
JKU Linz that have conceived and invested into the JKU Polymer Technology Centre
and use its facilities jointly for teaching and research:
• Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing (ipmt)
• Institute of Polymer Product Engineering (ippe)
• Institute of Polymer Injection and Moulding and Process Automation (ipim)
• Institute of Polymer Extrusion and Compounding (ipec)
In total, 17 professors at 13 institutes are regularly involved in polymer research and
training at the JKU. Beyond the four core polymer research institutes, therefore, the
following nine institutes make regular or occasional use of the PTC’s facilities.
• Institute of Chemistry of Polymers
• Institute of Catalysis
• Institute of Analytical Chemistry
• Institute of Physical Chemistry - LIOS
• Institute of Chemical Technology of Organic Materials
• Institute of Polymer Sciences
• Institute of Soft Matter Physics
• Institute of Surface and Nanoanalytics - ZONA
• Institute of Constructional Lightweight Design
As outlined above, moreover, industrial partners have played a determining role in the
establishment of both the academic programme as such and, later, the JKU Polymer
Technology Centre. Since the introduction of plastics technology as a main area of
emphasis, the JKU Linz has cooperated intensively with the regional plastics industry,
in particular with the companies OMV, Greiner Holding and Engel Holding.
In the framework of the JKU Polymer Technology Centre many of these companies
cooperate regularly with students and researchers alike, be it through external
teaching courses or through joint research and development projects.
Undergraduate
Plastics Technologies (six semesters)
Studies (BSc)
In detail, the institute’s activities in basic and applied research focus on:
• Research and optimisation of screw plasticating units;
• Pipe-, profile and film/sheet extrusion;
• Compounding and recycling: processing and material development;
• Lightweight design with thermoplastics: thermoplastic-pultrusion;
• Generative production engineering: 3D-FFF-printing/extrusion free forming;
• Modelling of transport phenomena in polymer processing technologies;
• Material characterisation and applied rheology;
• Sensor and measurement techniques for optimising of material; and
• Self-optimising complex extrusion line concepts and soft sensors.
8.1.7 Novelty
The core novelty of the JKU PTC’s academic programme is the unique possibility to
specialise on the subject of plastics/polymer technology from an undergraduate level
(BSc course with specific degree). At most other universities, plastics technology is just
one area of specialisation within broader engineering degrees.
8.2.1 Origins
The Technological Research Institute Jules Verne (French acronym, l’IRT) is an
industrial research centre, which brings together the private sector and scientific
research institutions with the view to improving the industrial competitiveness. It was
established in 2012 in response to the call for proposals launched in the framework of
the national programme “Investissements d’Avenir”.
The Jules Verne Manufacturing Academy is a complementary initiative inspired by the
work carried out by the Regional Industrial Competence Observatory of Pays de la
Loire (French acronym, ORCI) which was established at the beginning of 2012 and co-
piloted by the regional branch of Metallurgy Industry Association (French acronym,
l'UIMM), the Jules Verne Institute, Regional Authorities and the Prefecture of the
region.
The diagnosis of the situation points to difficulties encountered by the industrial
training providers finding the suitable candidates. Particularly, this is true for the
position of operators for which the rate of enrolment is below 50% and is also in the
case of engineers or PhD, precisely because graduates are more attracted by working
in the service and financial sector.
In summary, the following three specific issues have been identified:
• Industry has generally lost attractiveness among young people;
• While the aerospace sector continues to attract new employees especially by
leading large companies like AIRBUS, EUROCOPTER, the SME sector hardly
generates any new employment;
• The available trainings do not always seem appropriate to the industry needs
taking into account rapid evolution of modern technologies and some new
businesses do not match any training manual.
In detail, the seven operational objectives of the Jules Verne Manufacturing Academy
are as follows:
1. Provide competences according to the current and future industry needs.
2. Increase the attractiveness of industrial profession, from operator to PhD
graduates, and contribute to the evolution of the perception about industrial
profession among young people and their families.
3. Stimulate the development of a system of trainings through apprenticeship. It is
planned that by 2019 the Manufacturing Academy and Association of Industrial
Professional Training, French acronym AFPI will provide training to between
800-1000 apprentices (i.e. from the CAP level which is an equivalent of secondary,
vocational education to engineer diploma). In total some 2000-2500 persons are
expected to be involved in industrial trainings.
4. Ensure that the training and industrial profession is accessible for all.
5. Put innovation at the heart of educational objectives, taking into account the
evolution and use of digital solutions.
6. Establish the map of available equipment and optimise its utilisation.
7. Leverage the development of a network through the establishment of a joint
training centre to be recognised internationally as a best practice example in
developing skills for advanced manufacturing.
8.2.4 Partners
The IRT consists of 58 members of which 31 are large industrial companies like Airbus
Group, STELIA, PASTIC OMNIUM, 13 SMEs including ALBATROS, MULTIPLAST,
SOCOMORE, and 14 scientific research institutions among others CNRS, the Ecole
Centrale de Nante, and Ecole des Mines de Nantes, etc.
In case of the Manufacturing Academy various actors including local, regional
authorities, the IRT, industrial partners and training institutions are involved in this
joint initiative.
8.2.5 Novelty
The novelty of the Jules Verne Manufacturing Valley, Academy mainly lies in the role
played by the IRT, which aims at developing the initiative and bringing together
different actors, who at the same time can be competitors. As noted during the
interview, developing such synergies is complex but at the same time it is very
promising for leveraging the existing potential of advanced manufacturing in Pays de
la Loire.