NCCA,Bournemouth

University

Prof. Peter Comninos

Starting point

- Interreg 2 Seas Cluster Initiative: Evaluation, validation and dissemination of

results from various 2 Seas projects relating to creative digital solutions

- Aim:To increase the use of creative digital solutions in various business sectors

4 participating 2 Seas projects• 2ST (2 Seas Trade)• 3i (Integrated, Increased, Innovations)• SHIVA (Sculpting for Healthcare through

Interactive Virtual Art)• VIVID (Value Increase by Visual Design)

2 SEAS Trade

The 2 Seas Trade Project (2ST)

9 Project Partners:• Kent County Council (Lead Partner)• 4 Chambers of Commerce

• VOKA West Flanders• VOKA East Flanders• Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce• Chamber of Commerce for the SW of the Netherlands

• POM West Flanders• Locate in Kent• BSK-CIC• Canterbury City Council www.2seastrade.eu

2ST: Aims & Objectives

• To establish a cross-border trade support network

• To support SMEs in accessing business opportunities in nearby European markets

• To promote the 2ST area as a place to do business

2ST Activities

• 44 Business workshops (e.g. international marketing)• 87 “1-2-1” support visits to SMEs• Stand space for 44 SMES at 5 European Trade Fairs • 14 Sector-focused market visits & B2B Events• 4 ‘Doing Business’ Guides• 1 Online Trade Assessment Tool• 1069 SMEs supported by the project

2ST Key Project Results

• SMEs have knowledge about export markets and are taking steps to trade internationally

• SMEs have made business connections in partner regions

• Distributors & commercial partners identified• New customers & clients identified• Export orders placed• SME growth in the partner regions

2ST Conclusions

• SMEs appreciate support to enter new markets• A solid partnership is essential in delivering cross-border trade

support• Longer-term results for companies are not yet known (exporting

is a process and a journey)

- Digital solutions provide big opportunities for business internationalisation

- Companies are not fully tapping into digital potential- Businesses need to use digital technologies in the right way to

boost exports

3i Project

Project 3i & partners

Triple helix cooperation : SME + Government + Academia

Increased economic development and innovation

Industry

Goverment

Academica

Government and end-users: Maritime Requirements

Academica: Research and technology demonstration

Industry: Business development

3i Rationale1. Knowledge of unmanned aircraft in Europe is scattered

between EU-member states.2. Europe must benefit from the global growth of new

business in unmanned aircraft products and services.3. Maritime security organizations in Channel and North Sea

area search for more effective intelligence systems.

Government:

Maritime safety and security scenario’s

&

Develop critical mass for requirements

Academia:

Development of European research cluster&Technology research and demonstration to comply with requirements

Industry:

Support and development of business clusters

&

Innovation to translate technology towards new UAV products and services

3i Actions

1. Research on UAV usage & technology

2. Build of prototype UAV system

3. Demonstration of capabilities

4. Communication

3i Positive Results

1. Triple helix cooperation (SME + Government + Academia)2. Concrete and tangible results ( joint UAS prototype )3. Focus: 3i is ‘one joint activity’

1. Complementary scope of supply (no overlap)2. Maximum cross border cooperation (many dependencies

in design, build, demo actions)3. All partners active throughout

4. Flexible approach. When some partners faced problems (e.g. internal reorganisation, new regulations), other partners were able to take over tasks

5. Sustainable project result: The prototype system will remain available after project completion.

3i Conclusions and reflections

1. Integrated team challenges:1. More dependencies (technical interfaces)2. Complexity (member state differences, quality and delay

risk)3. Quality of project is determined by the weakest link in chain4. Intensive project management (technical, partner, financial,

quality)2. New technology: need for new regulations3. Project partners with complementary knowledge are able to

work on one single goal

SHIVA

Virtual Sculpting and 3D Printingas Accessible Digital Solutions

The SHIVA Project: Introduction

• Virtual sculpting• 3D printing• For rehabilitation patients

– To help healing process• For severely disabled children

– For artistic expression

SHIVA Project Outputs: Metamorphosis and Totem

SHIVA Project: 3D Printing

Technological Lessons LearntUser Interface is the Key• Completely reconfigurable GUI (took 70% of effort)• Individual user profile • Eye-gaze and brain-wave interfaces are possible• Accessible full scale modeller is possible• 3D printers need “3D Print” button

Communication is the Key • Understand each partner's discipline

– Takes time– The 'Blank Canvas' effect– Definitions of 'prototype' software– Difference between bug and feature

• Managing expectations• Balance between research activities and artefact delivery• Development / testing time balance

Organizational Lessons Learnt

• Accessible User Interface API– Configurable for using mouse, switches, eye-gaze

• Modelling API (provided by Uformia, Norway, as in-kind contribution)

• Real-time Rendering on GPU• 3D Printing

Available Digital Solutions

Value Increase by Visual Design (VIVID)

VIVID Partners

Why VIVID? • Common issues found in partner regions

• Brain-drain of graduates of the Visual Design institutions.• Reinforce knowledge exchange and validation• High-level educational institutions but not enough jobs

opportunities • Knowledge-exchange and exchange on festival programming

could be improved

VIVID Actions

Overall target: realise a cross border virtual network on visual design with 9 partners

Method of realisation:1. Knowledge / research resulting in creating new visual

design products2. Stimulate creative entrepreneurship: create employment

opportunities in partner regions both in existing trade and industry, and incubators

3. Showcase visual applications in conferences, festivals to trade and industry

VIVID Results and ProcessResults:• 16 Visual design applications for heritage sector, training and

education• Continuous learning pipeline including games (over 10.000 youngsters

involved)• 2 incubators• 34 internships, 17 permanent jobs, 2 business start ups• Visual design network in Breda with regular exchange with trade and

industry

Process:• Visual Design has been introduced to trade and industry• Sustainable network with 9 partners has been set up (declaration of

intent)

VIVID Conclusions1. Intensive project management (20% of partners undertake 80% of activity)

2. Resistance of trade and industry to accept Visual Design as a medium for growth

3. Knowledge institutions have a target to train and deliver high-quality graduates but have no control as to how industry uses them

4. Complexity due to considerable cultural and economic differences between

member states

5. Governments should facilitate and stimulate, not get involved in the development of content

6. Manage expectations (results differ from those expected in advance) Accept it, especially with 9 partners, 30 projects and partners from different

backgrounds

DIGISOL

• Digisol is the result of 4 cooperating projects• Explanation actions of phase 1 by Lead Partner

Breda