IMPACTS SET OUT IN THE WORK PROGRAM
• A European eco-system for high TRL testing and validation of nano-composites, affordable and accessible for SMEs, through technical collaboration between RTOs and composite producers and through identification of all critical value chain players for the market introduction of the final product.
• Enabling of investment decisions for market introduction of novel, cost-effective, safe and sustainable nano-enabled products that demonstrate superior performance in terms of multifunctionality and sustainability.
• Demonstrated scaling-up and increased degree of automation of nanocomposites production lines/processes.
• Contribution to standardisation in the nano metrology field for fast product and process design.
• Promoting safe-by-design approaches in collaboration with the EU nano-safety clusters and contributing towards the framework of EU nanosafety and regulatory strategies.
MARKET PERSPECTIVE
In Europe, there are more than 20 million European SMEs representing 66.5% of all European jobs and employing in 2012 86.8 million people. The SME sector as a whole delivered 57.6% of the gross value added generated by the private, non-financial economy in Europe during the last years. Despite the strategic importance of these companies, SMEs face important challenges to stay competitive in the global markets, and often find difficulties even to compete with larger firms at national level. Barriers related to the lack of funds and inadequate access to finance, limited technical resources or lack of skills / knowledge (innovation management capacity) result in a loss of competitiveness and market opportunities for these SMEs.
Furthermore, the four applications identified by NANOLEAP are aligned with the trends for construction industry and enjoy promising market perspectives.
PROGRESS BEYOND THE ART
Apart from the specific results related with the work planned at the beginning of the project, two Open Call for tenders were organised by the NANOLEAP consortium. This way, external companies to get free-access to the Pilot Plants of the NANOLEAP Network to conduct particular research projects on nanomaterials of 6 months duration were invited. In addition, the consulting services offered by the non-Pilot Plant Partners of NANOLEAP (Product Characterisation & Testing, IPR Management, Market Analysis & Business Modelling, Nanosafety, Environmental Assessment and Engineering consultancy) were also offered as supplement to the pilot plant access. As summarized in the WP7 description, five companies were awarded: Thomas Swam (UK), Senergy (UK), Protheus (Spain), Graphenetech (Spain) and Dema (Italy). According to the surveys completed by these tenders, the five project were successfully conducted and the external partners were all satisfied by NANOLEAP services. In addition, the tenders expect the results obtained have an economic impact in their activities.
Finally, as a way to promote the Informal Network, whose Business Plan has been defined in Deliverable 9.3 a flat rate Open Call will be presented and disseminated, through the same channels used in the two Open Calls organized along the project, next September 2018. As a reference platform, the NANOLEAP website will be maintained for at least the next two years.
