Access to materials modelling tools to boost industrial innovation
Industry users in the materials innovation and manufacturing industries typically need to be matched with translation service providers to receive physical assistance in tackling the desired R&D challenges. The EU-funded VIMMP project established a user-friendly, powerful web-based marketplace that links beneficiaries from different manufacturing industry sectors with relevant materials modelling activities and resources.
Answering the need for a collaborative space for translators and industrial clients
VIMMP aims to facilitate the translation of a scientific problem into modelling workflows ready for simulation using a range of software tools integrated into an open simulation platform and deployed on cloud services. “It can, in fact, be very challenging for industries, and especially for SMEs, to find access to the appropriate materials modelling tools, human resources and solutions without the direct assistance of a translator,” explains project coordinator Welchy Leite Cavalcanti. “At the moment, the expert contracting services for addressing such R&D challenges are typically managed through existing networks of contacts, or by finding new contacts through visiting fairs and conferences, and by initiating and developing new collaborations with other research centres.” To enable a seamless and fully integrated environment, VIMMP is built on solid taxonomy and metadata foundations, including those centred on materials models, software tools, communities, translation expertise and training materials.
A multifaceted innovative tool for the European manufacturing industry
VIMMP is a true marketplace, offering a substantial boost to all providers of tools and services, and integrating modelling platforms based on open simulation platform (OSP) standards in collaboration with the European Materials Modelling Council (EMMC). Thus, any software owner can easily integrate models and certify codes to adhere to the standards. VIMMP contributes novel avenues for coupling and linking models and it is validated in the context of three overlapping industry applications: personal goods, polymer nanocomposites and functional coatings. An innovative aspect to be highlighted is the translator router service. This component assists the customer in finding an expert — a suitable translator — who can perform the six steps of the EMMC translation process to solve the customer's problem. Furthermore, this service also assists the translator by the upfront gathering of as much information on the customer's problem as possible. Thus, the translator router function enables translators and end-users to connect. Typical VIMMP service consumers are scientists and engineers in chemicals, materials, manufacturing and process industries, R&D managers from industries, translators in various organisations such as academic modellers in collaboration with industry and research centres. The VIMMP service providers are owners and providers of commercial and academic software, as well as academics, consultants and training, data science and hardware/cloud solution providers. Providers of software and services benefit by reaching a wider market, as the field of materials modelling consists of a wide range of SMEs and academic providers. Typical of digital marketplaces, end-users also benefit from VIMMP by accessing the wide range of potential solutions via a single-entry point. “That is particularly beneficial to industrial SMEs that can otherwise find the field somewhat overwhelming and hard to access,” concludes Cavalcanti.
Keywords
VIMMP, manufacturing industry, materials manufacturing, open simulation platform, translator, manufacturing industry
