8/8/2019 ClusterPlast: Inter-cluster initiative to target the future challenges for the European polymer converting industry

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Inter-cluster initiative to target the uture challenges orthe European polymer converting industry

8/8/2019 ClusterPlast: Inter-cluster initiative to target the future challenges for the European polymer converting industry

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The European Polymer Converting Industry (EPCI) is a major European industry, comprising 50,000 companies -o which 85% are SMEs - and 1.4 million employees (source: EuPC 2008).

To encourage the EPCIs economic development,CLUSTERPLAST will develop support actions commonto 6 regional clusters in Europe.

CLUSTERPLASTwill set-up a Joint Action Plan (JAP)designed to promote synergies between thelocal/regional authorities, business entities andresearch organisations from the 6 European re-gions. The JAP will support technology-led deve-lopment in the regions, encouraging innovationthrough collaboration between RTD infrastructuresand companies, stimulating new enterprise, at-tracting new investment through a number of va-ried initiatives, and coordinating actions to ensureconsistent use of public and private funding.

Applications o the PolymerConverting Industry

CLUSTERPLASTstrengthens development of knowledge-based companiesClusters and their associated networks cultivate aster product deve-lopment by increasing company knowledge through interaction withskilled partners. CLUSTERPLAST will boost the synergies between clus-ters at a European level, with a ocus on SMEs.

CLUSTERPLASTconnects regionsCLUSTERPLAST will draw upon experience rom existing research-dri-ven clusters to enhance the development o new clusters, which will

ocus on integrating the three sides o the knowledge triangle, namelyresearch centres, businesses and local/regional authorities.

CLUSTERPLASTencourages high value-added research in EuropeTogether the clusters will integrate industry know-how, RTD in rastruc-tures, entrepreneurship and political will into a consistent and viable“Joint Action Plan”, which will equally be used as a blueprint or thedevelopment o other regional clusters in the EPCI.

CLUSTERPLASTaims to improve co-operation between regionalauthorities, research entities and local businesses, as wellas to strengthen knowledge-based economic development andboost competitiveness. The CLUSTERPLAST project will have stra-tegic impacts in various felds, like knowledge trans er, sharing oRTD in rastructures, ostering o entrepreneurship, mutual learning andmentoring. The EPCI as a whole is likely to beneft rom the results oCLUSTERPLAST. Mentoring and mutual learning will disseminate goodpractices and e ective R&D investment tools at a European level.

Object ives

Impact

The European Polymer ConvertingIndustry in 2007 :

50 000 companies

€

CLUSTERPLASTEFFECT

2007

E P C I t u r n o v e r

2015

CLUSTERPLAST impact :+ 6% per year*

EuPC forecast : + 4% per year

Inter-cluster initiative to target the utu

8/8/2019 ClusterPlast: Inter-cluster initiative to target the future challenges for the European polymer converting industry

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A review of the main actorsin the business--research--regional/local authorities triangle, o R&D fnancial instru-ments, and o previous technology roadmaps, projects and initiatives will be drawn up. The review will urtherindustry awareness,increase the reach of dissemination activities, encourage technology transfer betweenregional entities and clusters, and acilitate the launch ojoint initiatives and projects.

Likewise, the review will provide an industry benchmark,identify best practicesand improve inter-cluster communication.

Thedevelopment of a Joint Action Planwill go a long way to meet the defnedgoals, constituting a major deliverable o the project. It will promote urther integra-tion o R&D and scientifc activities at a European level, eliminate duplication owork, andexploit complementary skills and knowledge, in line with the EuropeanResearch Area Objective. The Joint Action Plan will cover sharing o RTD in rastruc-tures, knowledge trans er, mobility, selection and support o research projects, os-tering o entrepreneurship, education and training strategies, and mutual learningand mentoring strategies.

The consortium has an e ectivecommunication policyto disseminate its actionsby organizing common events and initiatives. It will adopt the role o mentor orSMEs, clusters in the making, and less developed European regions.

By increasing industry awareness, it will be easier to identify new opportunities and cross actions, and to en-courage greater interaction between the entities of the innovation system. This will mean:

1. European skills and knowledge will be put to best use2. The most adapted unding schemes will be selected3. The results o R&D will be widely disseminated and e fciently exploited, increasing their value

Road map and ambi tions

1. Sharing of RTD infrastructures2. Knowledge transfer3. Mobility plan4. Selection of research projects5. Fostering of Entrepreneurship6. Integrated and relevant

education/training strategies7. Mutual learning and mentoring8. Consolidation of the JAP

1. Analysis of the Research - Business - Local/regional authorities triangle2. SWOT charts and recommendations

1. Setting upthe communication policy

2. Organisation of common eventsand initiatives

3. Dissemination tools

Materials & compound technologies

Transformation processes

Tooling and machines

Composites and nanocomposites

Smart plastics (materials functionalization)

Process Integration & eco-conception

Management

Joint Action Plan (JAP) Dissemination and initiationof mentoring actions

Critical analysis of the research agendas

challenges or the European polymer converting industry

C r é d

i t p h o t o :

J e a n - P a u l B a

j a r d

C r é d

i t p

h o t o :

A r m a n d

8/8/2019 ClusterPlast: Inter-cluster initiative to target the future challenges for the European polymer converting industry

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Consort ium

Acknowledge ments

www.clusterplast.eu

In order to tackle CLUSTERPLAST’s ambitious objectives, a power ul consortium has been ormed. It cons15 partners from local authorities, business entities and research centres, from 6 European countries:

CLUSTERPLAST is supported by the European Commission through its Seventh Fra-mework Programme (FP7) or Research and Technology Development. The project’s

global budget is€

887k, o which€

749k is unded by the European Commission.The CLUSTERPLAST project ocuses on the “plastics converters industry”, aimed atstrengthening the EPCI network in Europe.

The project was launched on 1st January 2009 and will run until 30th June 2010.

4 existing research-driven clusters:• Land Oberösterreich(Austria):

CLUSTERLAND- www.clusterland.at• Regione Piemonte(Italy):

PROPLAST- www.proplast.it• Région Rhône-Alpes(France):

Région Rhône-Alpes- www.rhonealpes. r PLASTIPOLIS- www.plastipolis. r• Enginnering & Tooling Cluster(Portugal):

CENTIMFE - www.centim e.comCEFAMOL - www.ce amol.ptOPEN - www.open.ptIST - www.ist.utl.ptMARINHA-GRANDE- www.cm-mgrande.pt

2 clusters in the making:• Zlinsky Kraj(Czech Republic):

TICZLIN- www.ticzlin.czPLASTR- www.plastr.cz

• Comunidad de Valencia (Spain):UA- www.ua.es IMPIVA- www.impiva.es

AVEP- www.avep.es

Project management consultancy:

Project Coordinator: Région Rhône-Alpes - Ms Caroline Barnay

cbarnay@rhonealpes. r, (+33) 4 27 86 63 24

C r é a

t i o n : :

C o m

è t e : : w w w . c o

m e

t e . c o

m

EC Project O fcer:Mr. Salvatore La Rosa

salvatore.la-rosa@ec.europa.eu, (+32) 2 29 90 792

T echnology Innovation C entre Ltd.

- www.almacg.com