The vision for the future of European research in manufacturing
Manufuture: The technological platform in the manufacturing field
One of the most supported PT by the EC is manufacturing, Manufuture, which in turn is mirrored in a number of national platforms, which are being formed in Spain and other countries. A few months ago was presented in Madrid Manufuture (E), the Spanish technological platform in the field of manufacturing, coordinated by Fatronik.
The technological platform Manufuture has been created to coordinate and align efforts to promote the shift from a manufacturing based on resources towards an innovative sector based on knowledge, through a system of competitive r & d based on multiple factors: enabling environment for r & d, generation of knowledge and innovation, education and training, infrastructure accessible for r & d and solutions to new social needs.
They are part of Manufuture industrial enterprises, research institutions and public administrations, and is ruled by a high level group (HLG: high level group) in which Fatronik is part.
The main objectives of Manufuture are: to contribute to a shared "vision" of what will be the manufacturing in the future, define a strategic research Agenda (SRA: strategic research Agenda) and introduce the SRA through r & d activities.
Manufacturing in Europe is characterised by having a strong social component because of its influence on the economy, employment and the quality of life of citizens. The "manufacturing" represents 22 per cent of GNP in the EU, and it is estimated that in total 75 percent of the GDP of the EU and 70 per cent of employment are related to the "manufacturing". All this implies that every employment in manufacturing involves two jobs in services related to manufacturing. In Europe there are environment 2.5 million businesses of manufacturing, of which 99 per cent are SMEs.
That is why what a competitive "manufacturing" sector is vital to enable Europe to achieve the ambitious economic, social and environmental objectives set in the long term. In this sense, there are changes that the sector must address without delay:
- The international context is changing rapidly due to the emergence and consolidation of new actors in the making, especially in Asia.
- Clients demand innovative products with increasing benefits, be a need for innovation in production, with shorter cycles of product every time.
- The demand for security and eco-efficiency in production and products is growing.
... and the research and development in the field of the manufacture must provide solutions to the challenges posed by these changes.
In this way Fatronik takes part in various activities:
- Fatronik belongs to the "High level Group - HLG" European platform and its support group, in which a small group of entities are co-ordinating the activity of the platform.
- Coordinates the Spanish platform for manufacturing, in which contributions have already been made to the MS and was presented at the Ministry of industry in a day with large number of people.
- Participates with Margune, Center for cooperative research to the research on manufacture of high performance, in the Basque platform.
All these initiatives to be successful, the industrial participation is critical, so Manufuture has a large participation of companies. The platform is governed by a clear policy of openness and transparency to all the parties concerned, in addition by that from these lines are encouraged to accede to this great initiative to all those companies that have something to contribute on the needs of r & d in the field of manufacturing.
