Seventh European Conference on Industrial Technologies - Industrial technologies for the 21st century
The seventh European Conference on Industrial Technologies, organized by the European Commission, took place in Toulouse, France, from 27 to 30 October 1997. This major event brought together some 750 European industrialists, researchers, engineers and urban planners to debate the needs and future development perspectives of industrial research in Europe. The conference was inaugurated by Mr. Lionel Jospin, Prime Minister of France, and the opening session was addressed by Mrs. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for research, innovation, education, training and youth. Emphasizing the importance of research in promoting growth, competitiveness and employment, Mrs. Cresson stressed the need to adapt research to consumer demands, echoing the central theme of the conference "Europe's research at the service of its people". "Too often, the needs of the consumer and the requirements for competitiveness are seen as being mutually exclusive", the Commissioner noted. "Nothing could be further from the truth. The most promising markets are precisely those which correspond to existing or potential demand. And within these markets, the most competitive products will be those which are safe, easy to use, and long-lasting - the attributes expected by the user". The opening session was also addressed by Mrs. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, Luxembourg Minister for Education and Vocational Training and current President of the Research Council of the European Union, and by Mr. Umberto Scapagnini, President of the European Parliament's Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy. Within the central theme "Europe's research at the service of its people", discussions focused on three main areas of industrial research which have a direct impact on daily life: - The urban environment; - The factory of the future; - New perspectives in aeronautics. In each of these three areas, a wide range of projects financed under the two European industrial research programmes, Industrial and Materials Technologies (BRITE/EURAM) and Standards, Measurements and Testing (SMT), were presented in over 50 technical sessions. These technical sessions were complemented by the organization of round-table debates in which the main points of each session were used to stimulate discussion and the exchange of ideas. The main conclusions resulting from these debates are summarized below: - The urban environment: New technologies in the areas of urban transport (design of clean, safe, intelligent urban transport) and construction (improving the quality of life and preserving urban cultural heritage) must be encouraged. Since more than 80% of Europeans live in towns, not to mention the companies located there, a better urban working and living environment is essential for the optimization of the overall industrial system. - The factory of the future: Improving the quality of products, processes, and services whilst respecting the environment is the main challenge for the factory of the future. Consumer expectations must remain a central priority in the approaches adopted both by industry and by regulatory and standards organizations. Traditional products must be replaced by "service-products" providing a higher level of service. In addition, the idea of an innovative factory must be reinforced through the continual integration of new technologies and the development of intelligent systems. Finally, cooperative industrial networks should be strengthened and extended at the European level by increasing the links between large European companies, without forgetting the key role of the SME (small and medium-sized enterprises). - New perspectives in aeronautics: The objective is to integrate advanced technologies into the development of the new generation of aircraft, in such a way as to improve European industrial competitiveness on world markets and increase the efficiency and safety of air transport whilst avoiding damage to the environment. Such research is essential for the restructuring of the European aeronautics industry, which is taking place in the context of increased cooperation between partners. A major exhibition presenting over 100 industrial technology projects from the Industrial and Materials Technologies (BRITE/EURAM) and Standards, Measurements and Testing (SMT) programmes was organized in parallel with the conference.
Countries
France