Periodic Reporting for period 2 - FlexFunction2Sustain (Open Innovation Ecosystem for Sustainable Nano-functionalized Flexible Plastic and Paper Surfaces and Membranes) Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2023-03-31 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project Plastic and paper based flexible materials and films are used in a wide range of daily life products e.g. in packaging, furniture surface finish, consumer electronic devices, architecture or in car windows. Key Enabling Technologies for a majority of these applications are based on nano-enabled functionalization of the surfaces. Today, Plastics Processing Industry faces game-changing, critical challenges for societal acceptance and economic competitiveness: (1) Overcome plastic waste pollution and follow the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy; (2) Keep pace with digitisation and get products ready for integration of smart systems and intelligent products.FlexFunction2Sustain will be the first European Initiative to support the Industry in overcoming these challenges through a sustainable Open Innovation Ecosystem. FlexFunction2Sustain develops dedicated services to boost innovation for nano-functionalised flexible plastic and paper surfaces and membranes and offer those services to users, in particular SMEs, in all 27 EU countries through a single entry point (SEP) model with regional presence. FlexFunction2Sustain connects complementary pilot lines to a set of 9 connected lab-2-fab facilities covering all major nano-surface processing techniques for (flexible) plastic and paper surfaces and membranes. The facilities and novel surface functionality will be demonstrated in six relevant industrial application scenarios. 20 pre-commercial pilot case projects will be selected in open calls to demonstrate the Services of the FlexFunction2Sustain OITB. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far A business model and the legal structure of the FlexFunction2Sustain Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) was et up. A non-profit association will secure the societal impact of the OITB and will establish standing technical committees to address expressed needs of the industry for accelerating the time to market for new products which use nano-functionalised plastic and paper surfaces and membranes. The technical committees will cover activities such as (a) standardisation of characterisation procedures or system designs, (b) maintaining a knowledge base and identifying future technology trends and roadmaps, (c) joint dissemination activities, (d) tune the OITB members’ services and technologies to market needs, (e) maximize efficiency in collaborative research and innovation projects, and (f) interact with the whole European Open Innovation Ecosystem. The Association will establish strategic partnerships with regionally active technology consultants and sales partners to establish a European network of access points for industry that act as single point of contact (called “Single Entry Point - SEP”). The key tasks of the SEP are consulting the customers in technology selection and planning, managing and realizing innovation projects based on the services of the OITB members. On February 7th, 2023 the ESNA - European Sustainable Nanotechnologies Association as the Flexfunction2Sustain OITB association was created as non-profit association. By that the association became operational by Month 36 of the project. The call for tender for SEP was published. Selection and contraction will be performed in June 2023. In parallel FlexFunction2Sustain upgraded the technical facilities of the consortium members for processing of novel bio-based, bio-degradable and/or recyclable plastic and paper based materials that shall replace the state-of-the-art mineral oil based plastic products in e.g. packaging applications. The upgrades of the facility include winding systems to enable the use of materials with low young’s modulus and dimensional stability; modified process stations to reduce process temperatures or to increase productivity and efficiency; and inline quality control solutions to improve yield and quality in pilot processing. Furthermore, FlexFunction2Sustain, in particular the consortium partners IPC and Fraunhofer IVV, enhanced their capabilities for recycling of plastics, and for verifying the recyclability and biodegradability. In december 2022 IPC acquired the TÜV Austria certification for evaluating all relevant biodegradability levels (from industrially compostable to marine degradable). Finally, dedicated characterisation workflows to evaluate physiochemical properties, application performance and safety approval (e.g. for food contact) are being prepared. A first catalogue of FlexFunction2Sustain characterisation services has been published through the project’s website.All facilities and technological solutions developed within FlexFunction2Sustain are verified in six industrial use case scenarios that cover food and non-food packaging, biodegradable security labels, switchable water filter membranes and innovative multifunctional electronic surfaces in automotive applications. At month 18 of the project, the partners successfully demonstrated roll-to-roll processing of bio-degradable micro-structured surfaces for security labels; roll-to-roll manufacturing of conductive PET based membranes for filter applications; demonstrators of fully recyclable drink pouches and operational organic solar cells that were deposited on recycled PET films. At Month 18, FlexFunction2Sustain launched an open call to invite SME for pre-commercial pilot case projects. The SME receive subsidized access to the innovation services of the FlexFunction2Sustain OITB to support and accelerate development of novel products and technologies for smart and sustainable plastics and paper solutions. The submission procedure for project proposals is described on the FlexFunction2Sustain website: www.flexfunction2sustain.eu. 23 applications have been received. 16 of them have been selected as pilot cases and progressing well. Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far) FlexFunction2Sustain will create a sustainable network of excellence for nanotechnologies for eco-friendly plastic and paper products. The FlexFunction2Sustain OITB is prepared to support the client at any point in the innovation chain from TRL4 to TRL7 with and integrated technological, business development and verification/pre-certification service portfolio that helps the client to progress quickly through the innovation chain – accelerating the time to market by 30% and more. Key innovations comprise: - open, from the whole EU accessible, “lab-to-fab” facilities for nano-functionalization of plastic and paper surfaces and membranes, being fully prepared for novel – biodegradable or fully recyclable – polymer formulations; covering the whole innovation chain from a lab verification (technology readiness level TRL 4) to pilot and small series production (TRL7) - a sustainable network of excellence for nanotechnologies for eco-friendly plastic and paper products supporting standardisation activities (together with the whole European Open Innovation Ecosystem); suggesting and consulting regulation activities; and providing market trends and roadmapping activities;- a fully integrated market- and customer oriented portfolio of joint innovation services covering both technological services (e.g. material design, process development, testing and verification and pilot production) and business services (e.g. IP consulting and securing, due diligence services, support in financing and funding of new ideas, estabilishment of networks and value chains): offered to SME in the whole European Single Market for fair and reasonable conditions through a single point of contact. Open Innovation Test Bed for nano-functionalized plastic and paper surfaces and
