Industry Perspective on Establishing and Monitoring Collaborative Doctoral Thesis

Transcription

1 Industry Perspective on Establishing and Monitoring Collaborative Doctoral Thesis Egbert Lox Senior Vice President Umicore Group R&D EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne December 9-10 th 2010, Lausanne, Switzerland

2 Umicore s businesses Energy Materials We develop materials which enable the clean production and storage of energy The business is driven by the demand for clean, low-carbon energy solutions Catalysis We develop technologies to treat automotive emissions The business is driven by increasingly stringent emission norms to promote clean air Recycling We operate a unique recycling process to deal with complex industrial residues and end-of-life materials The business is driven by materials scarcity and recycling legislation Performance Materials We produce a range of essential materials and chemicals based on precious metals and zinc Diverse applications: e.g. high-purity glass, construction, pharma, electrics/electronics 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 2

3 Key megatrends for Umicore Resource scarcity More stringent emission control Renewable energy Electrification of the automobile 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 3

4 Umicore fit with megatrends Electrification of the automobile We are a leading producer of key materials for rechargeable batteries for laptops, mobile phones as well as electrified vehicles Resource scarcity We are the largest recycler of precious metals; we are able to recycle more than 20 different metals More stringent emission control We provide catalysts for 1 out of 3 cars in the world as well as for trucks & non-road vehicles Renewable energy We supply key innovative materials for highefficiency solar cells and other photovoltaic applications 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 4

5 Umicore Research & Development : a hybrid structure decentralised & centralised rechargeable batteries electro-optic materials Group R&D automotive catalysts precious metals products thin film products 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 5

6 Partners within a 150 km radius of Umicore Group R&D - Olen, Belgium (excerpt) 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 6

7 Partners within a 150 km radius of Umicore Group R&D - Hanau, Germany (excerpt) 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 7

8 Partners within a day s trip by train/plane from Umicore Group R&D - Hanau, Germany and - Olen, Belgium (excerpt) 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 8

9 Structured collaboration with university partners Regional University Local University Skill development of our coworkers Competence growth through joint (funded) technology development projects International University Access to world top level competences 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 9

10 Structured collaboration only with selected university partners Literature: Evaluation criteria (excerpt) Number of papers published in int. journals Quality of publications (taking into account impact factors) Networking, recognitions (# citations) Scientific network (FWO, IWT, SBO projects, ) Competence mapping; Strength-Weakness analysis Number of publications 0 ULG KUL UHasselt UAntw erp UGent VUB Quality of publications Number of citations 3,8 3,6 3,4 3,2 3 2,8 2,6 2,4 2, total citations (incl ow n) total citations (excl ow n) 1,8 ULG KUL UHasselt UAntw erp UGent VUB ULG KUL UHasselt UAntw erp UGent VUB 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 10 0

11 Collaborative doctoral thesis schemes applied 1. Belgium, Flanders BAEKELAND mandates through IWT funding agency Long history of a pragmatic approach with KU Leuven (framework agreement) 2. France CIFRE program : we recently started our first try out case with University Nantes 3. Germany Long history on pragmatic approach with TU Darmstadt Umicore rents since many years a laboratory on the campus of TU Darmstadt 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 11

12 Why do we actively support collaborative doctoral thesis approach /1? 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 12

13 Why do we actively support collaborative doctoral thesis approach /2? 1. We want to achieve breakthrough technology innovations to make the difference 2. We look for a solid science basis for our R&D work 3. Our research is structured into long term innovation roadmaps thus allowing commitments on the time scale of PhD s 4. We believe in the power of open innovation and are eager to learn about new scientific skills, competences, insights, approaches, amongst others from universities 5. We want to learn to know brillant young people having eventually an interest to come to work later on for Umicore 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 13

14 Science based innovation needs access to advanced analytical methods : Partnership with U Antwerp QUANTEM 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 14

15 Roadmap for innovation axis ionic liquids Partnerships Know how insourcing application area I Literature reviews University x University y Participation in user committee SBO projects Funded dedicated program Refocus of R&D budgets Labscale setup Pilot runs Small scale industrial application Full scale industrial unit Organic development application area II 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 15

16 What do we offer to the participants in the collaborative doctoral schemes 1. Enabling access to advanced application-near performance testing capabilities 2. Giving guidance on the unknowns (not being published / patented doesn t mean it is unknown to us!) 3. Giving insights in the long term research, development and application possibilities of the PhD work (roadmapping / scenario planning) 4. Application of modern R&D project management tools for efficient PhD work (peer review by a multi-facetted team of top scientists ; quality assurance systems to minimise mistakes; ) 5. Fewer financial limitations if the work fits well into our company core interests 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 16

17 Enabling application - near performance evaluation Umicore s position in the value chain automotive catalysts Knowledge loop Raw materials & functional materials Components (washcoated monolith ) Convertor Exhaust system Application Recycling Pt,Pd, Rh Pt, Pd, Rh - salts Al2O3 -doped CeO2 Ceramic monoliths Metal monoliths Foams Canned catalysts Converters Silencers Sensors Gasoline IDI Gasoline DI Diesel Mixed oxides Diesotto PGM doped oxides Heavy duty Materials loop 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 17

18 Enabling access to advanced R&D methods Partnership with Flanders Materials Center (FLAMAC - a division of SIM ) 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 18

19 Real partnership requiring same top quality level of operations for all partners Umicore Group R&D is certified according ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system ISO specifies requirements for an environmental management system ACC-Olen is accreditated according to DIN ISO by the Belgian accreditation body, BELAC ACC-Hanau is accreditated according to DIN ISO by the German accreditation body, DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH) Pre-audit ISO18001 OHSAS - Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 19

20 Employability benefits for participants in the collaborative doctoral schemes 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 20

21 Other aspects of our interaction with universities 1. We give courses at universities both concise semester courses as well as topical Master classes 2. We offer guidance to the teaching portfolio through membership of education program committee s 3. We offer critical and constructive scientific input & managerial support through our membership in the steering committee of major academic research portfolio s 4. We are active participants in PhD defense jury s and PhD topic & candidate selection councils 5. We offer political support through active membership of alumni associations and faculty senates 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 21

22 The fundamentals of our involvement in collaborative doctoral thesis projects 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 22

23 Working at Umicore

24 Employability benefits for participants in the collaboartive doctoral schemes We support and live our values 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 24

25 Open Innovation example product development Understanding the final application for developing functional materials : catalytic diesel exhaust gas after treatment systems 2010 Umicore EUA DOC CAREERS Project Workshop II - Egbert Lox December 9-10 th 2010 Lausanne Internal use 25