Aeronautics/Microtechnology/mechanical engineering > UsinAE: new generation machine tools for the aeronautics industry

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1 January 2012 Design > Competitiveness clusters: the ideal structures for combining technology and design Exchange workshop > The discussion workshop on cluster approaches to promoting sustainable development European Union > Horizon 2020 : the European Union s future funding programme for research and innovation Publications > State aid monitoring bulletin for the information of competitiveness clusters, January 2012 edition Euripides > Three competitiveness clusters honoured at the latest Euripides Council Eurêka > Cut-off for the 8th Eurostars call for projects 1 March 2012 Acqueau > Acqueau, the new EUREKA programme for the water sector Aeronautics/Microtechnology/mechanical engineering > UsinAE: new generation machine tools for the aeronautics industry International inter-cluster partnership > The four energy competitiveness clusters compare notes with US grids Design and digital > How does the Cap Digital cluster raise member awareness of the importance of design in digital innovation? Skills management > Mapping automotive training in Alsace and Franche-Comté for the benefit of businesses and employment Private investment > Another success for the Lyonbiopôle Private Investment Day Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

2 DESIGN Competitiveness clusters: the ideal structures for combining technology and design Making design an integral part of corporate strategy is a winner when it comes to helping businesses differentiate themselves on their market. What role can the competitiveness clusters play in this? Here are some examples. Competitiveness clusters can act as vectors for developing and accelerating the integration of design into corporate strategy, helping to bring innovation and markets closer together. Some competitiveness clusters have already begun building new applications, consumer aspirations and design considerations into the conception of new products and services. Examples For several years now, the MAUD competitiveness cluster has made an introduction to and training in eco-conception and eco-design an integral part of its action plan targeting firms operating in the fields of graphics, packaging and tableware (mainly glassware). The European Ceramic Centre, based in Limoges, has awarded its label to the Urbacer project that resulted from the call for Innovation Creation Design projects launched in 2009 by the General Directorate for Competitiveness, Industry and Services (DGCIS). The project is an original approach that encourages designs for street furniture made from ceramics and porcelain. The programme brings together designers and professionals from the ceramics and surface treatment industries. The first prototypes went on show at the Batimat trade fair and were presented to the media (newspapers and TV). The city of Beirut has expressed an interest in this new type of street furniture. Elsewhere, Cap Digital has set itself the target of mastering digital design. Its aim is to justify the involvement of designers in developing new services to meet a particular need or to change relationships to work. Over the past year and more, Cap Digital s newly formed digital design community has organised a number of workshops putting design at the disposal of engineers. In recent months, spurred on by the Interaction Design Association (IxDA), Cap Digital has been running campaigns to raise awareness amongst competitiveness cluster players of the design-based approach to digital innovation. Another initiative is the Designers in Residence pilot scheme set up in the Provence Alpes Côte d Azur region by the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI) industrial design school, now being tested by the Minalogic cluster in Grenoble. Designers offer participating businesses a strategic vision based on creativity and design. In addition to this vision of design strategy, firms can also help in setting up a global project encompassing not just their product(s) but also new services, a new visual identity, new product concepts etc. The Végépolys cluster has also taken on board this design-driven approach. Its Design et Végétal initiative is intended to help firms in the plant sector stand out on their market, and create added value through innovation on a parallel, complementary track to scientific innovation. (For more information, see the more extensive article in the November 2011 Newsletter). Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

3 EXCHANGE WORKSHOP The discussion workshop on cluster approaches to promoting sustainable development The discussion workshop on approaches to sustainable development, held on 19 December 2011, was attended by 34 competitiveness clusters, at the invitation of the Interdepartmental Working Group (GTI) and the General Commission for Sustainable Development (CGDD). The workshop began with a presentation of the study conducted by CM International on behalf of the CGDD, into how the competitiveness clusters approach the issue of sustainable development. A number of concrete actions initiated by various clusters were presented for comment: Agenda 21 by Images & Réseaux, the approach to reckoning with risk adopted by the Risques cluster, and the lifecycle analysis approach developed by IAR or by Fibres. The workshop offered participants an opportunity to discuss the pertinence of the concept of sustainable development as it applies to the competitiveness clusters, the nature of the tools that could be deployed, and the conditions for disseminating those tools to other clusters. Considerable emphasis was placed on the contribution that sustainable development can make to the competitiveness of cluster members. The day s discussions also highlighted tools that could potentially be widely adopted by clusters, irrespective of their sector of activity: life-cycle analysis, Agenda 21, corporate social responsibility, labels, risk assessment or support and assistance with eco-design. To aid the clusters in their analysis and in implementing a sustainable development strategy, methodological guidelines will be drawn up under the auspices of the CGDD and will be published by the end of the first half of Jean-Michel Kehr (CGDD) Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

4 EUROPEAN UNION Horizon 2020 : the European Union s future funding programme for research and innovation The European Commission is planning to invest 88billion in research and innovation in order to stimulate growth and employment. Horizon 2020 is the new EU framework programme that will combine all research and innovation funding, including the current Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development. On 30 November 2011, the European Commission introduced Horizon 2020, a new framework programme devised to support research, development and innovation in Europe. It consists of an 88billion investment programme in research and innovation running from 2014 to What is new about Horizon 2020 is that it combines all EU research and innovation funding including the Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (FPRDT), the innovation-related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the EU s contribution to the European Institute of Innovation and technology (EIT). Horizon 2020 will focus more attention on the societal challenges facing European companies and will concentrate on helping to transform scientific breakthroughs into innovative products and services that create market opportunities and improve people s lives. The programme also aims to reduce administrative formalities significantly by simplifying rules and procedures. PUBLICATIONS State aid monitoring bulletin for the information of competitiveness clusters, January 2012 edition In the news this month: In its half-yearly report, the European Commission notes that aid (excluding temporary frameworks) has been reduced and is better targeted. It circulated the modified rules applying to Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI), giving greater clarification of the concept of economic activity. New de minimis rules specific to SGEI are still being drafted and will be the subject of consultation with Member States. The Commission also circulated the new sectoral framework on State aid to shipbuilding. The new framework, more restricted in its scope of application, is maintained until 2013, when the new horizontal guidelines (R&D&I, environment, aid for regional purposes) are to be revised. The Commission also adopted a scheme presented by the United Kingdom to create a fund to finance social investment. This will be an interesting avenue for the development of social tourism infrastructure. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

5 EURIPIDES Three competitiveness clusters honoured at the latest Euripides Council The Céramique, Minalogic and Elopsys competitiveness clusters each receive funding under the Euripides programme The latest meeting of the Euripides Council, held in Paris on 1 December 2011, had good news to offer on several fronts. One was the award of the Euripides label to four new R&D projects in the field of smart systems, for a total budget of 20million. The four projects involve 32 partners in five countries, including France. Three French competitiveness clusters also awarded their label to two of these successful projects. The Céramique and Elopsys clusters co-labelled the Sprintronics project put forward by French SME Ceradrop, offering printed electronics equipment. The Minalogic cluster co-labelled the Satpack project, put forward by French SME Novapack, a provider of specialist microelectronic and nanoelectronic materials. The Council also published its 2012 call calendar, introducing more flexibility into the submission procedure. Participants will now be able to submit a full project proposal prior to the deadline for project outlines. They will thus have four opportunities for submitting projects: Spring 2012 Project outline: 13 February 2012 Full project proposal: 2 May 2012 Autumn 2012 Project outline: 10 September 2012 Full project proposal: 15 November 2012 Euripides contact : Rémy Renaudin EURÊKA Cut-off for the 8 th Eurostars call for projects 1 March 2012 This call for projects concerns every sector of activity but is aimed particularly at the development of new products, processes and services, and at helping SMEs to access international markets. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

6 The Eurostars programme was developed by EUREKA and the European Commission to support high-tech, high-potential SMEs engaged in collaborative European projects. Eurostars supports the collaborative projects of research-performing European SMEs (i.e. SMEs dedicating at least 10% of their turnover to R&D activities). The project must be sponsored by at least two partners from two EUREKA member countries and coordinated by a research-performing SME. The 8 th Eurostars call for projects is now open, with a cutoff date of 1 March Patrick Cornet, EUREKA and Eurostars National Project Coordinators ACQUEAU Acqueau, the new EUREKA programme for the water sector As part of the EUREKA strategic programme, Acqueau aims to boost the competitiveness of firms operating in the fields of water and water-related technology. The Acqueau programme was officially launched in April 2010, as part of the major multi-year strategic EUREKA programme covering a much wider range of issues. Its aim is to increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the water and water-related technology sectors. The Acqueau Blue Book (part-1 and part-2) lays out the programme s organisation and scope of action. Acqueau basically considers any project proposal that falls within the framework of this strategy. Nine projects have so far been awarded the Acqueau label, and five are already under way, with funding of some 20million. What are the eligibility criteria? In order to be eligible, an R&D project must be submitted by a consortium of at least two enterprises from different EUREKA member countries. The participation of a research laboratory or university, while not formally required, is encouraged. Companies of any size may participate, but Acqueau is particularly committed to supporting SMEs throughout the process. What percentage of the project does the subsidy represent? The level of funding varies from country to country; in France, in 2011, it represented 25% for companies (30% for SMEs) and 40% of full costs or 100% of marginal costs for research bodies. Aid to SMEs may be increased to 45% of project cost if their project is awarded a competitiveness cluster label. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

7 What is the project evaluation process? The process consists of two phases: Submission of a project outline (10 pages) describing the content and objective of the project, its innovative features, economic outlook and budget. This project outline is reviewed by the Acqueau project officer and scientific committee and by the national project officers of the countries concerned (for France, the DGCIS). On the strength of this review, the project is given a green light (OK to proceed), an orange light (proceed, with recommendations) or a red light (not viable). Submission of a full project proposal, for projects given a green or orange light, with the consortium s agreement. The full project is then reviewed according to the same procedure as the project outline. This review forms the basis for recommendations to the Acqueau Board, which is responsible for labelling. This procedure takes some six months to complete. The Acqueau scientific committee meets four times a year. What is the schedule? Acqueau organises two calls for proposals a year, each dedicated to a programme set out in the Blue Book. The dates are made known several months in advance. Two months prior to the call for proposals, an information/networking event is held to explain the content. These meetings are of vital importance, in that they enable companies to make contacts and test the water with a view to forming a possible consortium to submit proposals. Consortia may also submit projects as and when. How to submit an application? Full information, including the full call for proposals procedure and the review process, is available on the website. Sophie Costedoat, Head of the Eco-Technology Bureau (DGCIS) 50,000 In France, around 50,000 people are employed in the design sector. (source: DGCIS) Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

8 AERONAUTICS/MICROTECHNOLOGY/MECHANICAL ENGINEERING UsinAE: new generation machine tools for the aeronautics industry Developing new generation machine tools for the manufacture of aeronautics parts, reducing operating and maintenance costs. The UsinAE project has been awarded the label of the EMC2 competitiveness cluster and has benefited from funding under a single interdepartmental fund (FUI) call for projects. New generation machine tools The UsinAE (Usinage Aéronautique Economique/economic aeronautic machining) project focused on the machining of structural assemblies for the aeronautics industry, with two main objectives: Resolving issues of operating and maintenance costs on high-speed machine tools; Overcoming the technical barriers posed by the increasing complexity of parts and new advances in materials, such as composites and metals with outstanding mechanical properties. Concretely, the project aimed to develop new generation high-speed machining spindles combined with an optimised guidance and monitoring system, with the ultimate objective of doubling spindle life. The project also sought to provide added value for all those in the chain, from spindle and machine manufacturers to service providers and end users. Project partners Project sponsor: Europe Technologies (SME) Other partners: Airbus, Dassault Aviation, EADS, Forest Line, IRCCyN, PCI, Precise, S2M, Synervia Initial project spinoffs Results, products, prototype services, proof of concept, R&D-based services: the project has overcome a number of technical barriers. Prototypes of spindles with instrumented bearings and of a monitoring system have been trialled by various users. The tests confirmed real productivity gains, outperforming expectations. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

9 Publications: 3 Conferences, colloquia: ten or more Theses: 2 Job creation: 10 plus another 50 jobs forecast Outlook: the project resulted in the marketing by Europe Technologies of a new monitoring system, EMMA, developed at IRCCyN. Spindle and machine manufacturers now have a more efficient range of products on offer. In addition, the project should generate an extra 500,000 in sales of spindles and monitoring systems and over 150,000 in services sold. All the partners have benefited from the enhancement of their skills. The design and manufacture of aircraft parts is currently in a state of flux. UsinAE has identified new avenues to help meet the needs of contractors. The MaîQUA project, sponsored by Europe Technologies, will explore one of these new avenues. The project is aiming for productivity gains of at least 20% with no loss in quality on the overall manufacture of large-scale structural aeronautics parts, and has already been awarded an EMC2 label plus co-labelling by Arve Industrie & Aerospace Valley. INTERNATIONAL INTER-CLUSTER PARTNERSHIP The four energy competitiveness clusters compare notes with US grids A new mission to the United States to seek out new partnerships and feedback from US counterparts Following on from the 2010 initiative, a new mission on the theme of Smart Grids went out to the US (Massachusetts and Illinois) from 27 November to 3 December Its members were drawn from the four French energy clusters: Capenergies, Derbi, S2E2 and Tenerrdis. The mission was devised by S2E2, organised by Ubifrance and the Economic Mission to the US and enjoyed DGCIS support. The aim of the mission was to promote contacts with a view to future international technology partnerships and seek feedback from smart grid proof-of-concept projects under way in the United States. Competitiveness cluster representatives taking part in the mission now plan to invite their American hosts on a reciprocal visit to France to promote national skills and activities in the fields of smart grids and energy-efficient buildings. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

10 A number of lessons learned from the mission. US conceptions of the smart grid, based on the deployment of smart meters, have evolved considerably in the space of a year. Experience has shown that smart meters are far from sufficient to guarantee a more reliable grid. The American approach appears to be shifting towards a more broadly based approach, incorporating electricity generation, distribution and consumption. The installation of meters has also underlined the importance of taking consumer/user needs into account. A number of programmes came up against consumer indifference or even outright rejection. Efforts to raise awareness and to support and encourage changes in consumer behaviour would seem to be essential. The mission also provided an opportunity to create or strengthen contacts, from which it emerges that France has by no means lost ground in this field, quite the contrary. For Thierry Roux, CEO of Pulsar Innovation, a member of the Derbi cluster, This is the second time I have taken part in a mission to the United States. For me, it is an opportunity to take the temperature of the US market and make sure my products are properly tailored to demand. It provides a validation of my products and processes. For Jean-Philippe Fouquet, Doctor of Sociology at François Rabelais University in Tours and a member of the S2E2 cluster, I was setting out into the unknown to some extent, since the inclusion of a sociologist in a primarily technical mission was a first. The objectives have been met; I am now more convinced than ever that the human and social sciences have their part to play in the issue of smart grids. For Paul Bertrand, CEO of SmartFuture, a member of the Capenergies cluster, The main lesson I learned from this mission, it seems to me, is that we have nothing to blush for when it comes to smart grids in France. We are not lagging behind in deployment, and certainly not in technology. In fact, French technology often seems more advanced and more sophisticated than anything we were shown during the mission. The difference in perception stems from the fact that the Americans move faster to implement and market tested solutions than we do in France. The French delegation now knows where to concentrate its efforts if France is to stay in the media race, a race that is vitally important to start-ups but increasingly also for established major firms. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

11 DESIGN AND DIGITAL How does the Cap Digital cluster raise member awareness of the importance of design in digital innovation? Promoting and highlighting the role of unseen design is the objective of the Cap Digital cluster s Digital Design community, with the aid of the Interaction Design Association and the Le Lieu du Design centre Digital technology changes our relationship to others but also to objects, in both their use and their conception. A new form of industry is emerging. Companies will henceforth have to consider their customers as human beings above all. In this new context, the digital designer seeks to defend a global vision of the product, to create a relationship, desire, the adoption of new uses. He seeks to breathe a soul into technology in a society always in need of greater humanising. The Cap Digital cluster is aware of this new paradigm and so seeks to speak out on behalf of design and raise awareness among its members, by means of a range of actions led by a dedicated community. IxDA Paris 1 This was the framework within which the Paris delegation of the Interaction Design Association joined forces with Cap Digital and Le Lieu du Design, to hold a roundtable for the Paris region s digital ecosystem on 16 November The audience was invited to reflect on how individuals interact through a product or service, and how this can alter our relationship to work. The three presentations made at the event were, in fact, no more than a pretext to spark interaction between the individuals all gathered in the same room. The presentations certainly succeeded in their aim, provoking long periods of discussion ranging over the observation of usage, understanding and taking into account the user in the process of product development, the balance between creation and observation, etc. The roundtable followed the same logic as the workshop held last May, to raise awareness among cluster members of design-driven approaches in digital innovation. The idea at the workshop was to work in small groups to define what makes a comfortable and well brought up telephone, and imagine a number of usage scenarios. Mastering digital design, understanding its meaning, its pluralism and its effects is the objective of Cap Digital s recently-formed Digital Design community, which seeks a better understanding of how and when design can be integrated into R&D projects. The initial stages have proved most encouraging and the community is now considering its next steps, including the Futur en Seine 2012 digital life and creativity festival. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

12 (*) The Interaction Design Association or IxDA has two aims: to spread knowledge of and gain recognition for Interaction Design as a discipline, and to bring together all those involved in its practice. (**) Le Lieu du Design is a Paris-based centre that unites all those engaged in this particular economic sector. Cap Digital : Julien Soullière SKILLS MANAGEMENT Mapping automotive training in Alsace and Franche-Comté for the benefit of businesses and employment Mapping that brings together cluster members and the region s educational structures. At the beginning of 2011, the Véhicule du Futur cluster decided to map all the existing training courses related to its field of interest available in its region (Alsace and Franche-Comté). There are over 700 training courses pertinent to the vehicle of the future, ranging over the entire chain and various different levels of qualification from the most basic certificate of aptitude (CAP) to the post-graduate. Armed with this information, the cluster can now find the courses its members need. The mapping process has also created closer links between cluster members and the educational establishments concerned across the region, meaning that the cluster is also encouraging the emergence of new projects and speeding up the process of innovation. If necessary, the cluster can also set up courses that are not currently provided but that meet a demand for skills from businesses. Using the tool, the cluster can now channel information to education providers not only on present needs but also on those of the future. This will enable providers, whether public sector or private, to focus more clearly on emerging technology, for example, such as electric or hybrid vehicles, renewable energy sources, etc. As part of this initiative, the Véhicule du Futur will be bringing together representatives from the four automotive high schools in Alsace and Franche-Comté, early in The meeting is intended to raise the awareness of the academic body as to the technological changes under way. Another objective for the cluster is to join forces with the Department of Education in introducing supplementary training for young people that will make them better equipped to meet employers needs and thus more attractive on the job market. Bruno Vitrac, Training and Skills of the Future Programmes Manager Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

13 PRIVATE INVESTMENT Another success for the Lyonbiopôle Private Investment Day Lyonbiopôle assists its SMEs in their quest for funding. What results did the 2011 Investment Day produce at its Investor Meeting session? Mission accomplished for Lyonbiopôle! Its efforts to help its members find funding are paying off. Businesses in the cluster managed to raise 50million in funding in 2010, and did almost as well in 2011, raising 49.1million in private equity. Copyright : Lyonbiopôle 1 Among the cluster s campaigns, the Private Investment Day is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for this success. On 2 December last year, Lyonbiopôle organised its third successive Private Investment Day, in partnership with local actors Crealys, Eclosion 2, Grain and Oseo, and with the support of Sanofi Pasteur. This third round was devoted to the challenge of strengthening the equity capital of SMEs in the biotech sector, and its aim was to facilitate and develop their contacts with business angels, venture capital funds and private equity funds. The event achieved its objectives once again, attracting 125 participants, over half of them SMEs and business start-ups, alongside national and regional private equity investors. The day was organised around two roundtables on the themes of Starting up a life sciences business: what are the alternatives to raising capital? and How to finance business growth: buy-out, codevelopment? Six CEOs with a medium or long-term goal of raising capital also presented their financing plans to investors. The pharmaceutical industries, which invest via the InnoBio fund, are asking us to present them with projects at earlier stages, which indicates an aspiration on their part to take more risks in supporting the structuring of innovative biotechnology in France. That is why, as investors, we are convinced of the need for this initiative, organised by Lyonbiopôle, which enables us to meet several companies with real potential over the course of a single day, stresses Olivier Martinez, Investment Manager at CDC Entreprises. These one-day sessions form part of an overall approach to supporting SMEs with their financing issues. Lyonbiopôle organises Investor Meetings several times a year. These take the form of individual meetings between businesses and investors. Three sessions were held in 2011 with three private equity funds, respectively Sofimac, Sham and Mérieux Développement & Octalfa. As part of its ongoing support for SMEs, Lyonbiopôle has other meetings scheduled for The cluster is also planning to step up its support for firms seeking to raise capital, by means of the cluster innovative enterprise (EIP) label. Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14

14 _ Consult the archives [ _ Sign up [ Legal mentions This newsletter is published by the DGCIS and DATAR. Address: 8, rue de Penthièvre, PARIS Director of publication: M. Patrick Crézé Editor in chief and copy: Martine Maillard Editorial committee (in alphabetical order): Delphine Abramowitz, Rémi Arquevaux, Véronique Barry, Nicolas Daubresse, Nicole Dechervois, Ana Dujmovic Blua, Aurélie Faitot, Arnaud Lafont, Sofiène Lourimi, Caroline Mischler, Fabienne Ragache, Laetitia Tailliez, Thierry Vautrin and all of the associated competitiveness clusters Design and production: Stratis Photos: Stratis, Lyonbiopôle competitiveness clusters, IxDA-Paris andx In accordance with the French Data Protection Act n of 6/01/1978, you have at all times the right of access and rectification of data concerning you. You may exercise your right of rectification by writing to us or by clicking on this link. In order to protect your privacy and your personal data, the DGCIS and DATAR undertake not to divulge your personal information to other companies for their use. Your address will not be used for any purposes other than distribution of this newsletter. For any further information/requests: Newsletter of the competitiveness clusters January / 14