ICT-enabled modelling, simulation, analytics and forecasting technologies

Specific challenge: Simulating continuous and discrete manufacturing processes, forecasting the behaviour of manufacturing systems and processes, and designing products to an even larger extent through virtual mock-ups and optimization methods integrated in the design and production chain are key enablers for Europe's future manufacturing sector. Advances in ICT in terms of high performance computing power and communication speed, smart sensor technologies for generating and exploiting ""big data"", the convergence of the embedded world and the Internet/Cloud world in cyber physical systems (CPS), multi-modal visualisation and interaction technologies, are leading to a new generation of modelling, simulation, forecasting and decision support methods and tools. These offer a huge potential for making the whole manufacturing chain more competitive.

Scope:

a.      R&I Actions: proposals are expected to cover at least one of the two themes identified below.

Innovative modelling, simulation, analytics and forecasting tools for manufacturing at large, building on advances in ICT. The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 2 and 4 million would allow this area to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Projects should be driven by industrial use-cases and should include proof-of-concept demonstrations for validation, preferably on real process chains. They should address as appropriate several of the following issues:

               Modelling and simulation methods involving multiple phenomena (physical, mechanical, energetic, chemical, energy, material characteristics, cost, …); including multi-scale and integrated discrete/continuous models, multidisciplinary and multiobjective design optimisation tools taking a holistic approach; and/or integrating virtual and physical experiments building on the combination of simulated, experimental, and real world data in real time.

               Integrated knowledge-based systems covering the complete product life-cycle with advanced analytics, smart decision support systems and self-learning capabilities exploiting the availability of ""big data"" from smart sensors, historical process files, or human-authored data; and addressing aspects, e. g. interactivity, real-time, data-fusion, imprecise computing, compressed sensing, advanced visualisation, security and privacy.

Integrated modelling, simulation and information management systems benefiting from recent advances in ICT. The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 5 and 8 million would allow this area to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Projects are expected to stimulate pre-normative or standardisation activities related to aspects such as information/knowledge exchange, data sharing, semantic technologies, tool integration, etc. Projects must include reference implementations and demonstration and validation in minimum two comprehensive and complementary industrial use cases. Focus is on at least one of the following issues:

               Integrated information management systems for product-process-production systems that are well embedded into their social, environmental and economic context.

             Advanced computer aided technologies (CAx), modelling, simulation and decision support toolboxes tailored for novel manufacturing processes, e. g. laser-based and additive manufacturing.

For this topic, proposals should include an outline of the initial exploitation plan and business scenario, which will be developed further in the proposed project.

b.       Support Actions: Road mapping and constituency building for novel ICT-enabled concepts in manufacturing supporting the wide adoption of virtual, integrated, scalable, semantic factory models; merging design and production models; and integrating novel ICT for creativity. Stimulating EU-US collaboration on R&I related to modelling and simulation.

Expected impact:

•             Increased productivity during design and ramp-up phases and for higher mass customization capacity for big enterprises as well as SMEs through access to on-demand scalable manufacturing process chains and services and through agreed data standards.
•             Improved cost efficiency and accuracy, reliability and speed of simulation techniques for manufacturing processes and/or full complex products.
•             Reduced time to production and optimised supply chains enabled by increased tool interoperability and data integration.
•             Enhanced interoperability of integrated product and factory design systems and global state monitoring enabling new type of services related to the data analysis, simulations and visualization techniques in each manufacturing stage.

Types of action:

1. Research & Innovation Actions. It is expected that a minimum of one Research & Innovation Action is supported for each theme.
2. Coordination and Support Actions