Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Co-FACTOR (Cooperate, Communicate and Connect to boost smart Components for tomorrows Industry) Reporting period: 2016-01-01 to 2016-12-31 Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project Co-FACTOR aimed at speeding-up the industrial up-take of results of the “smart components” FoF projects I-Ramp3, ReBORN, SelSus, T-Rex, INTEFIX and Power-OM. While primarily focusing in gaining benefit for them, measures also sought to complement program level initiatives. Co-FACTOR pursued 5 major ambitions:Cooperate: Close partnerships among core cluster projectsCommunicate: Present & promote the clusterConverge: Leverage impact by focusing on the cross-cutting issue „smart components“ and assessing standardization opportunitiesConnect: Facilitate exploitation of project results, creating a win-win-situation for the technology „push“ and „pull“ siteConsolidate: analyze bottlenecks for smart components, recommendations for future actionsCo-FACTOR offered technology assessments, match making, last-mile exploitation support by innovation management and funding outlook, expert workshops, links to the community, roadmapping on future R&D&I needs and strong dissemination. Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far The work from M1-M24 includes:WP1 (Coordination & Management):Activities dealt with the continuous management and monitoring of all administrative aspects related to project coordination and establishing the Co-FACTOR cluster. Main outcomes:• Cluster set-up and management of 165 confirmed registered members• internal management and communication• IP issues handling• 3 partner meetings, 2 review meetings• 2 amendments• Participation in 3 community and joint CSAs eventsWP2 (Technology diffusion):Co-FACTOR created a full-fledged corporate identity, which enabled a thorough project promotion. Material included:• 1 roll-up• 2000 flyers• 500 mini-flyers• 100 Laser pointer pens• 500 Notepads• 1 posterThe LinkedIn group “Smart Components for tomorrow’s industry” (100 members) gained recognition as a platform for networking and exchange. Effective dissemination of results was ensured by regular website news, 8 press releases, 5 newsletter, 6 internal & 20 external workshops. The involvement of young people happened with the student contest Smartly OUtstaNDing which led to the marketing campaign “Start Revolution 4.0”.WP3 (Technology Review):WP3 started with the formation of task forces, focusing on 3 application areas. They scrutinized and reviewed smart components related to the core projects and cross-project exchange on approaches in technical and non-technical aspects was facilitated. A fact sheet on “common understanding of smart components” was released. An expert panel on standardization issues was held at Manufuture 2015, which included a roadmapping exercise (public result). Further results:• 1 Survey on common understanding of smart components • 1 Consolidated view and public fact sheet• 1 Expert Panel with 19 participantsWP4 (Technology Transfer):Efforts were put into the technology pull perspective to deliver input for other activities of the WP. A major Co-FACTOR conference was implemented, offering opportunities in exploitation and follow-up measures. Also, the online portal SCRU was designed to allow a search for exploitable results. Main outcomes:• 1 Questionnaire on individual challenges of future manufacturing systems and products as online survey• Implementing a major conference (at IT2Industry, June 2016)• Launch of public SCRU online portal on Co-FACTOR website• Innovation coaching and provision of project financing information • 4 brokerage success storiesWP5 (Technology outlook & impact):WP5 analyzed remaining bottlenecks for smart components related to technological and socio-economic factors via 2 surveys to benchmark FoF projects results from core projects. These priorized exploitable results and scanned emerging technology development needs. 1 expert panel was held, which involved 2 roadmapping exercises to add a wider perspective to the benchmarking. It also focused on socio-economic influencing factors and delivered input for 2 green papers with policy recommendations. An assessment of the cluster model was done through a survey, gathering feedback on the cluster impact:• 2 benchmarking surveys • 1 expert panel with 17 participants• 2 Green papers • Analysis of demand and recommended for future public-private and R&D&I ventures • Recommended for measures on socioeconomic and political level• Lessons learnt on cluster model 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) Speeding up industrial exploitation and take up of results of projectsActing as cluster the involved projects gained visibility among relevant stakeholders. Industrial end-users’ awareness was raised, interest in the solutions and results was stimulated:- 3x innovation coaching and management for core projects- 1 major conference (linked to IT2Industry 2016), which pushed visibility- Online portal linking stakeholders, active LinkedIn group- SCRU online search tool for exploitable resultsStimulation of networks and alliances for further RTD and industrial innovationThe core cluster projects through the extensive contacts of the consortium, benefitted from a broad network and started new FoF projects collaboration: - Coordinated activities (workshops, discussions, 2 expert panels, industry event)- Facilitation of follow-up led to new alliances - Good example as cluster model More effective execution of common interest activitiesActivities highly stimulated experience & knowledge exchange, supporting a debate on strategies of market acceptance of technology, alignment of project activities, IPR and novel business model deployment:- Joint use of specific technologies among core projects- Standardization procedures on program & sector level- Provision of consultation, IPR material & NDAsAnticipation of business trends and market prospectsInnovation assessments for technology providers and targeted searches for industrial use-cases and end-users, B2B meetings, marketing efforts, assessing future market opportunities, SCRU search tool, publication of success stories & representation at eventsComplement efforts of Manufuture & EFFRA- A tight collaboration was maintained to exploit synergies on thematic level- Co-FACTOR delivered insights on smart components by 2 green papersEmployment - skilled employees for manufacturing industryThe science-to-business link remained an important aspect widely discussed. - Engagement of students through dissemination of smart components contest and chance to get in touch with industrial FoF players- Expert panel session on socio-economic factors: new skills were highly debated and are reflected in a green paperBuilding of “smart component community”By co-coordinating the individual projects dissemination. This community was stimulated also via the LinkedIn Group “smart components for tomorrow’s industries”- Dissemination including brand new tools from winner of the students contest - Support with insight, reviews and best-practicesCompetitiveness of manufacturing businesses, esp. SMEsCo-FACTOR fostered the technological excellence of involved organizations, more sophisticated products were developed within single projects. In particular SMEs benefitted from the cluster activities by the provision of an opportunity to significantly increase their visibilityGender issuesCo-FACTOR considered young women as one target audience. This led to a positive impact on the equality of genders as nowadays the ICT domain is dominated by male researchers and engineers. Co-FACTOR supported a specific price category in students contest project logo Co-FACTOR core FoF projects Co-FACTOR task force approach
