European Pilot Production Network EPPN Planning and Activities Bojan Boskovic, Cambridge Nanomaterials Technology Ltd Hans Hartmann Pedersen, European Commission, DG RTD/D3
EPPN Activities - The scope of the EPPN activities ranges from mapping of current pilot line projects to articulating needs and coordinating joint actions in a number of areas. - A number of Working Groups (WG) are foreseen in order to address the needs of the pilot line projects: WG Finance WG Market WG Human Capital WG Technical Collaboration WG Dissemination WG Policy - Pilots Task Force 2
EPPN Mapping The mapping activities of the EPPN will include: Mapping of pilot line capabilities, services and any available open access facilities. Pilot line promotional and marketing activities. Market opportunities. Final products and market segments being served. Pilot Line business models and sustainability plans. Mapping of regional/geographical distribution and links with other regional activities. Mapping of value chain relationships (by region and industrial sector). Defining links with horizontal barriers, such as regulatory, standards and safety correspondents. 3
EPPN WG Finance & Market WG Finance Improve understanding of different financing options Improve access to Finance through interaction with: European, national and regional programmes and finance institutions such as InnovFin (EU), Innovate UK (UK) etc. Private financing such as business angels and VCs. Development of an environment for combining private and government funding. WG Market Interact with key players in the supply chain in order to understand relevant market needs and penetration obstacles. Support business planning, development and sustainability. Support to define most appropriate business model, including open access opportunities. Customer and market sector profiling. Cooperation with SMEs. Needs for Market Place(s) ( Active Brokerage ). 4
EPPN WG Human Capital, Collaboration & Dissemination WG Human Capital (HR) Identification of the training requirements (including business models and product management) Facilitation of the relevant training workshops and activities. WG Technical Collaboration Other EC cluster will help addressing joint issues on characterisation, safety, standards and modelling. Sharing of facilities. Characterisation equipment. Safety Standards. Modelling WG Dissemination Representation of Pilot Lines, including organising joint trade show exhibitions. Case Studies. Working with NANOfutures, regional networks and other relevant organisations to promote EPPN and the Pilot Line facilities. Taking full account of Open Access facilities. 5
EPPN WG Policy The EPPN will identify pilot production policy needs through direct interaction with all stake holders and provide recommendations. Establish future research and innovation needs. Coordinate input to future research policy and innovation directions. Identification and recommendation for strategy developments at European, national and regional level, with particular focus on innovation barriers and the exploitation of pilot production facilities Explore Synergies with national, regional initiatives including RTD&I Programming (smart specialisation) Establish national and regional contacts with interest to work with the EPPN Establish contacts and monitor best international practices related to the pilot production facility development Establish Value Chain and Ecosystem development needs related to pilot plants and support further integration 6
EPPN Governance Members are the H2020 funded Pilot lines projects represented by the coordinators, exploitation leaders, pilot line developers, key industrial partners, especially SMEs. Other European pilot production activities, especially regional and other pilot plant facilities and experts (safety, marketing etc.) will also be engaged. The EPPN will be managed by an Organisational Management Board (OMB) and WG Leaders from the participating Pilot Lines projects, supported by the EC. The EPPN OMB will work with the EC to determine the organisation of potential external advisory and relationships to other initiatives. 7
Pilots Task Force Aims Identifying regional and national examples and best practices Exploring the need for coordination and specific actions at regional, national and EU-level in addressing both technical, operational, business and economic issues Recommendations for new funding and financing instruments Support to business planning and development of cooperation mechanisms across borders Exploring the need for other specific actions and awareness rising with technology users and consumers, finance and funding providers, and policy decision makers Pilots Task Force Meeting 25 May 2016 - Brussels 8
Pilots Task Force Recommendations 1 Facilitation of training in order to get new skills both technical and business (example: business plan training for EIB InnoFin initiative) Clustering of clusters, inter-clustering and cooperation between regions Network of regional offices Linking SMEs into the network including by involving regional technology transfer offices etc. Organising networking, matchmaking and pilot production supporting events and supporting similar events initiated and organised by others such as The NANOSUMMIT European NANOTour suggested by NanoHouse 9
Pilots Task Force Recommendations 2 Mapping of the European pilot production landscape and identify the need for additional pilot facilities at national and regional level. Identify first best practice examples (pilot line operational issues, industry user access and benefits, technical and regulatory advisory support, funding and financing instruments, etc.) Mapping and establishing network of needs and related companies in order to efficiently facilitate use and access to pilot lines Building up a database with Google like search facilities to allow pilot line owners to be matched with (SME) industry users. 10
EPPN Actions Mapping and Directory EPPN Training Workshops EPPN Finance and Marketing events Sharing lessons learned among EPPN members. Identification of success stories, drawing up Case Studies for dissemination Newsletter envisaged with EPPN members and as PR for the public events Policy recommandations 11
Concluding Remarks The EPPN approach is not only about networking. It is about generating new added value to SMEs working on KETs by offering a dedicated infrastructure and services ecosystem. Efforts are needed to ensure the widest cross-sectoral and geographical impact. National, regional and private initiatives are needed to help on finance and market articulation, and human and technical issues To develop a pilot line or plant is not enough. It is about a package of activities reducing economic risks and boosting investments. The EPPN intend to help addressing these issues! See the Charter of the EPPN for further details.