Objective
MENUSIM
MENUSIM
NETWORK OVERVIEW
With an average of 120 Kg consumed per person per year in
Europe, polymers have a tremendous importance in almost all
industries (automotive, food, electronics, medicine, etc.).
The industry uses numerous new polymers and, to be competitive, needs to save time, efforts and materials in testing before
production. Getting an accurate knowledge of how polymer
materials can be processed is thus of prime importance to
increase their usage and reduce their cost.
The understanding of polymer processing relies on two different approaches: mechanical engineering through numerical modelling and chemical engineering through rheology. Advanced research is carried out in both domains but, as numerical modelling is a rather new approach thanks to the progress of computer
technology, there are still very few open collaborations
between the two, preventing the dissemination of realistic
models and sound measurement techniques in the industry.
While technical conferences and meetings give indeed contact opportunities, they often cover too wide a spectrum of topics and only favour bi-lateral exchanges. They are not well
adapted for rapid and general diffusion of controlled
information.
Therefore, MENUSIM thematic network aims to facilitate the
emergence at European level of a multi-disciplinary approach to polymer processing by:
- setting up a general exchange platform through a dedicated Web server on Internet for rheological measuring techniques, calibration methods, research projects, numerical simulation problems and solutions, published results, etc. with a monthly selection and synthesis by MENUSIM experts;
- proposing workshops, meetings or conferences to existing
academic or industrial bodies, every six months, following the above experts analysis;
- going further into the questionnaire analysis made during the exploratory phase to draw the attention of concerned
organisations on topics which appear relevant for a specific research;
- enlightening likely needs for training sessions or staff
exchanges and organising them in case no existing body be in a better position to carry these out;
- identifying challenging scientific questions to be suggested to the European Commission as future interesting R&D topics. The expected output will be a strengthening of the
competitiveness of the European Industry.
EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND PARTNERSHIP
The European polymer industry is facing now strong competition from two different sources:
- highly industrialised nations, in particular the United
States and Japan, which rely on very dynamic internal markets; - emerging new competitors with very low labour rates and
impressive industrial and commercial investments.
In order to survive, the European industry must lower
absolutely its global cost. Even if this is not easy at the production level, it seems to be a reachable objective at
development level through better mastering of polymer
processing which in term would shorten development and
prototyping delays.
The MENUSIM network will provide a significant contribution to such an approach. It will lead to a better understanding of
polymer processing and will give a powerful boost to knowledge transfer, especially for SMEs thanks to faster exchanges
between existing European academic and industrial competence in numerical modelling and rheology,
MENUSIM partners will have the possibility of increasing their own expertise in polymer processing science and technology.
Concerted R&D actions will be promoted through the MENUSIM web. As a feedback is expected from the European polymer processing community once the MENUSIM web is operational, it is obvious that the potential benefit for the European industry will be immediately identified, hopefully leading to practical
applications and increased competitiveness.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
The polymer industry is one of the most important industrial activities in Europe, not only in terms of turnover,
investments and profits, but also in terms of employment.
Polymers constitute the basis for a very large range of
products and contribute to the development and progress of
automotive, food, computer industry, etc.. Polymers are found everywhere in products used daily by European citizens such as plastic bottles, tyres, furniture or packaging.
Nowadays, polymers are increasingly involved in the now
emerging material science, thanks to their unique and
characteristic properties. Materials are used to make objects and, besides the obvious chemical aspects in selecting polymers for the variety of today's applications, the key point is the processing, i.e. the different techniques for transforming base polymers into useful objects.
Due to their singular viscoelastic properties, the increasing complexity of raw materials (polymer blends, filled materials, etc.), and the tighter specifications on the applications
(complex parts, multi-components products, etc.), the
understanding and control of polymer flow properties within
factory floor conditions require efforts that are generally
factory floor conditions require efforts that are generally
beyond the resources of any single company. In addition, the multi-disciplinary aspects of polymer processing (i.e.
mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, computer
engineering, manufacturing techniques, etc.) are such that cooperation is needed between research teams, either industrial or academic.
Modelling and understanding polymer processing are thus
necessary to economically produce high quality products made of or including polymers.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering
- engineering and technology chemical engineering
- social sciences economics and business business and management employment
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
94408 Vitry-sur-Seine
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.