Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GlaCerHub (Glass-ceramic innovation ecosystem for implementation of new research directions in applications)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-06-01 al 2024-08-31
The GlaCerHub project aims to foster innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness by establishing a dedicated innovation ecosystem for the glass and ceramics industry in South Moravia (Czechia), and Trenčín (Slovakia) – a region with a rich tradition in these fields. GlaCerHub seeks to build on this foundation by creating a collaborative platform that brings together industry, academia, government, and society.
The main project activities focus on establishing structures to deliver:
• intense, innovation-focused networking,
• development of a shared R&I strategy,
• results-oriented training for future innovators, and
• targeted activities to support technology transfer.
Through these initiatives, the project aims to create a lasting, self-sustaining innovation hub that will drive increased investments in glass and ceramics R&D, foster new intersectoral PhDs, support IPR protection efforts, and promote technology transfer activities — all focused on converting excellent research into successful innovations.
The main project activities focus on establishing structures to deliver:
• intense, innovation-focused networking,
• development of a shared R&I strategy,
• results-oriented training for future innovators, and
• targeted activities to support technology transfer.
Through these initiatives, the project aims to create a lasting, self-sustaining innovation hub that will drive increased investments in glass and ceramics R&D, foster new intersectoral PhDs, support IPR protection efforts, and promote technology transfer activities — all focused on converting excellent research into successful innovations.
Activities performed during the initial phase of the project (first three months) focused on creating governance and implementation structures. At the governance level, a Hub Board was established as the highest decision-making body, along with the International Innovation Board, which fulfills an external advisory function. At the implementation level, a cross-border Hub Office was created, along with working groups responsible for executing planned tasks.
Following the initial phase, the main activities undertaken during the first reporting period of the project included:
• Inauguration of GlaCerHub local chapters in Czechia and Slovakia to facilitate quadruple helix networking and generate impacts beyond the consortium’s scope.
• Development of a GlaCerHub R&I strategy: The consortium identified six key domains for its R&I agenda. For each domain, relevant topics of interest were defined, along with an action plan to advance beyond the current state of the art.
• Preparation of a curriculum for a training program for future innovation leaders, including a survey to assess the needs of the target audience, analysis of the survey results, identification of relevant topics, and the development of an outline for the training program.
• Deployment of the TechView Platform: The consortium designed and launched a platform for technology transfer, featuring evaluation tools to screen and prioritize the innovation potential of ongoing R&I projects.
Following the initial phase, the main activities undertaken during the first reporting period of the project included:
• Inauguration of GlaCerHub local chapters in Czechia and Slovakia to facilitate quadruple helix networking and generate impacts beyond the consortium’s scope.
• Development of a GlaCerHub R&I strategy: The consortium identified six key domains for its R&I agenda. For each domain, relevant topics of interest were defined, along with an action plan to advance beyond the current state of the art.
• Preparation of a curriculum for a training program for future innovation leaders, including a survey to assess the needs of the target audience, analysis of the survey results, identification of relevant topics, and the development of an outline for the training program.
• Deployment of the TechView Platform: The consortium designed and launched a platform for technology transfer, featuring evaluation tools to screen and prioritize the innovation potential of ongoing R&I projects.
The results of the GlaCerHub project aim to generate the following long-term impacts: new investments in glass and ceramics R&D, patent applications, the creation of spin-offs, intersectoral PhDs, licensing transactions, and international recognition of GlaCerHub for its excellence and expertise in innovation for advanced glass and ceramics.
The potential impact of the project will depend on whether the target users adopt and leverage the project results. The discussion below outlines potential impacts for the project’s target groups:
Academia - The primary impact lies in advancing a cutting-edge scientific agenda focused on topics with high innovation potential. Additionally, the project will upskill participating researchers through innovation-focused training, foster intersectoral networking, and promote pathways toward technology transfer activities.
Industry – Strengthened linkages between science and business will create opportunities for the uptake of innovative technologies, either by existing market players or through the emergence of new technology-based SMEs. This will deliver innovative applications that provide environmental and economic benefits for society.
Public - The public will benefit from the adoption of innovative technologies that improve quality of life, as well as from easier access to educational materials and information.
Government - The public sector will experience higher returns on R&D investments in public research institutions, resulting in enhanced regional economic competitiveness. This will be driven by new key enabling technologies that align with the principles of sustainable development and support the technological sovereignty of the EU.
The potential impact of the project will depend on whether the target users adopt and leverage the project results. The discussion below outlines potential impacts for the project’s target groups:
Academia - The primary impact lies in advancing a cutting-edge scientific agenda focused on topics with high innovation potential. Additionally, the project will upskill participating researchers through innovation-focused training, foster intersectoral networking, and promote pathways toward technology transfer activities.
Industry – Strengthened linkages between science and business will create opportunities for the uptake of innovative technologies, either by existing market players or through the emergence of new technology-based SMEs. This will deliver innovative applications that provide environmental and economic benefits for society.
Public - The public will benefit from the adoption of innovative technologies that improve quality of life, as well as from easier access to educational materials and information.
Government - The public sector will experience higher returns on R&D investments in public research institutions, resulting in enhanced regional economic competitiveness. This will be driven by new key enabling technologies that align with the principles of sustainable development and support the technological sovereignty of the EU.