AEOLUS Human Performance Innovation

Netherlands: Utrecht

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

In Soesterberg-NL a unique ecosystem is found that enables state-of-the-art research and innovation on human performance under extreme conditions in (military) aerospace. It combines world-class facilities, an experienced group of multidisciplinary experts, a clear scientific yet also practical vision on Human Performance, a substantial number of active research programs and a network of industry, R&D and end-user organizations (Air Forces).

The innovation services provided to industry and SMEs include carrying out shares research programmes in consortia, and supporting product development of industry by applying knowledge and offering facilities as test & development environments, providing end-user feedback to industry

The purpose of Aeolus is to improve human performance under extreme (a-typical) physical conditions. Human performance is scoped as the performance of humans as such as well as the performance of humans in interaction with their environment (e.g. fighter, helicopter, helmet). Aeolus… A unique combination of facilities (equipment) is present in Soesterberg (NL), ranging from a human centrifuge, two hypobaric chambers, Night Vision experiment & training environments, the world-unique 6-dof disorientation simulator DESDEMONA, an advanced spatial disorientation simulator ASD, the Collaborative Training & CD&E Test centre, two climatic chambers, a 3D rotation chair, a low-cost flight simulation environment, a Wearable Technology lab, and an instrumented audio hall. A dunker pool facility is located on 1 hour drive, and is anticipated to be located in Soesterberg in the near future.
. Aeolus programs are based on scientific and applied research and take everything a human operator needs for optimum performance in real and virtual environments as the starting point. It strives to take human factors research to the next level.

Aeolus supports development and supply of innovative training environments, prototyping of new products, design, development and testing of pilot flight equipment for example. Aeolus focuses on

1. Wearable Technology & Systems

2. Operation Oriented Simulation

3. (Sub) Orbital Space

 

Aeolus campus is adjacent to both founding institutes and provides access to unique research facilities and world class scientists.

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Dutch Optics Centre

Netherlands: South Holland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

 

Dutch Optics Centre is an initiative of TNO and TU Delft aimed at boosting Dutch industry in the field of optics and optomechatronics by increased utilisation of Dutch science through joint R&D. The Netherlands are unique in the field of optics and opto-mechatronics, with a leading position in science and industry.

Within Dutch Optics Centre TU Delft, TNO and other knowledge institutes providing excellent research facilities team up with a world class manufacturing industry; producing opto-mechanical components for high-precision products like satellites, telescopes, microscopes, inspection instruments.

By joining forces in R&D, developing prototypes and eventually forming product consortia we create a strong Dutch optomechanical ecosystem that benefits both industry and science. This initiative is well aligned with the Dutch government’s ambition for large-scale Public-Private Partnerships. Dutch Optics Centre is a consortium of knowledge institutes and more than 20 High Tech companies from all… A catalogue of our equipment and facilities is soon to be published on our website (www.dutchopticscentre.com)

They include facilities like cleanrooms and spaces for validation and measurement.

The equipment is production equipment (for both metal as well as glass), unique thin layer equipment and measurement tool (like unique microscopes and optics equipment)
. Dutch Optics Centre is working opto-mechanical components and instruments for high-precision products like satellites, telescopes, microscopes, inspection instruments.

Applied Research
Product development and prototyping and testing
Training and education
Facilities sharing

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

INESCOP – CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Spain: Valencia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

INESCOP is a Centre for Technology and Innovation, founded in 1971 as a private and non-profit making association. With more than 45 years of experience, the Institute works to provide technology services, transfer knowledge and conduct research on general relevant topics for the footwear sector.

Our MISSION is to ensure that the knowledge and technologies reach the business network and result in business value in terms of improved products, materials, processes and methods.

Since 1971, INESCOP works to provide technology services, transfer knowledge and conduct research on relevant topics for the footwear sector. We foster innovation in the footwear industries by offering solutions adapted to their scientific and technical needs, thus providing a wide range of technological services aimed at enhancing the quality and performance of products and boosting business competitiveness in areas such as:

Testing and Quality management
R&D&innovation Consultancy
Advanced technologies
Healthcare… Adhesives & Nanotechnology laboratory

Scanning Electron Microscope + Elemental Analysis
Controlled-stress rheometer
Dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis - DMA

Quality analysis laboratory

Slip test equipment
X-ray equipment
Thermographic camera

Biotechnology laboratory

Biodegradation equipment based on ISO 20136
Fluostar Omega (Labtech)
GeoDocR (Biorad)

Functional analysis laboratory

VICON® motion capture and analysis system with 10 cameras and 2 AMTI force platforms.
NORAXON® Portable Inertial Motion Capture and Analysis System
NORAXON® Surface Electromyography System
NOVEL® Pedar Instrumented Insoles
NOVEL® Emed -a50/CL Pressure Platform

Microelectronics laboratory

Anritsu Spectrum Analyzer MS series
Lecroy Oscilloscope 6030
Arbitrary waveform generator TTI, TGA1244

Computer lab

HD material scanner
3D foot digitiser
3D foot sole digitiser
3D last digitiser

Robotics Laboratory

UR
ABB
Comau

. Our main KET R&I services are aimed at boosting competitiveness and innovation in the footwear sector industries, contributing to their adaptation to current needs and market demands by means of:

- Advanced manufacturing technologies & Laser based applications

Demonstration
Prototype development and testing
Product development
Implementation
Training

- Advanced materials, IB & Nanotechnology

Access to technology expertise and facilities for validation
Demonstration
Lab testing
Pilot production and demonstration / pilot lines
Product validation and certification

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

VoltaChem

Netherlands: South Holland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

VoltaChem aims to initiate and facilitate collaborative development of technology and business models with relevant stakeholders to help move innovation in the field of electrification and decarbonization faster towards commercial implementation. The program addresses both the indirect and direct use of electricity within the chemical industry, and works from a systemic point of view.

 

We adopt a multidisciplinary approach that brings together the entire value chain: in R&D (institutions, universities), in the users (chemical, electricity) and in the suppliers (sub-components, equipment and engineering). Participants can cooperate with dedicated researchers, starting with researchers from TNO and ECN who have knowledge and network within the fields of electrochemistry, heat technology, chemistry and process technology. From the program, we aim to collaborate with top-universities worldwide.

 

Companies that join VoltaChem get to participate in the VoltaChem roadmap, network and RD&I activities… Overview of most important facilities:

Thermo-acoustic heat pump lab.

Electrochemical characterization lab (H-cells, PEM-cells, potentiostats, etc).

Benchscale low-pressure electrochemical stack testing station.

Benchscale high-pressure electrochemical stack testing station.

Benchscale PEM component lifetime testing stations.

Full chemical analysis lab.

Test rig for long term testing of separation and conversion of hydrogen to products.

CATE test rig for high pressure conversion of hydrogen to products.
.

Community participation: Exclusive discussion group, roadmap updates, high-level results and (inter)national events.

Shared R&D participation: Pre-competitive R&D within a collaborative program with a duration of 2-4 years.

Sponsored R&D project: Pre-competitive linear development; small projects with predefined scope/time/budget.

Commissioned R&D project: Exclusive bilateral project with pre-defined scope/time/budget.

Indirect research collaboration: The VoltaChem program participates in publicly funded consortium projects and fundamental research programs.

 

http:/www.voltachem.com/voltachem/participation
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Biorizon Advanced Technologies for Industry

Netherlands: North Brabant

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Industry driven Shared Research Center, focusing on technology development for the production of functionalized biobased aromatics for performance materials, chemicals & coatings

Biorizon is anticipating the expected growing shortage of aromatics from the petrochemical industry and the widely shared ambition to green the chemical industry.

Our mission is to enable commercial production of bio-aromatics by 2025. In order to achieve this we adopt a multi-disciplinary approach that brings together the entire value chain: in R&D (institutions, universities), global leaders in supply of feedstocks (upstream), chemical conversion, equipment manufacturing (midstream), chemical industry, end-users and brand owners (down-stream). We connect with multi-nationals as well as SME companies.

Biorizon is a cross-border initiative between TNO, VITO, ECN and the Green Chemistry Campus and is part of Biobased Delta. Biorizon is located at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, at the heart of… Shared Research Center Biorizon has state-of-the-art facilities at its disposal. The facilities can be found at the following locations:

Green Chemistry Campus - Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands

TNO - Delft, The Netherlands

VITO - Mol, Flanders, Belgium

ECN - Petten, The Netherlands

 

Specifically the laboratories of the TNO Biorizon activities are situated in Delft and at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom and offer capacity for the lab- and bench-scale process development.

Throughout the last years, TNO has invested in several pilot units at TRL 4/5 for the demonstration of individual process steps in the end-to-end process from biomass to aromatics: a biphasic reactor for the conversion of hemicellulose to furfural, a condensation reactor for the preparation of furfuryl-hydrazones, a Diels-Alder reactor  for production of the targeted bio-aromatic compounds.

In specific the following TNO equipment is available:

Bi-phasic reactor

….

Theoretical assessment of feasibility of chemical pathways

Experimental validation of chemistry

Process modelling, design & development

Experimental validation of process technology (reaction & separation)

Scale-up studies at TRL 4-5

Consortium building & networking

Techno-economic viability assessments

Life Cycle Analysis

 

Types of interaction with Biorizon:

Community participation: Exclusive discussion group, roadmap updates, high-level results and invitations to (inter)national events.
Shared R&D program participation: Pre-competitive R&D within a collaborative program with a duration of 2-4 years.
Sponsored R&D project: Pre-competitive linear development; small projects with predefined scope/time/budget.
Commissioned R&D project: Exclusive bilateral project with pre-defined scope/time/budget.

Web-link for services

http://www.biorizon.eu/join-us
http://www.biorizon.eu/community/members

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

AMSYSTEMS Center Advanced Technologies for Industry

Netherlands: North Brabant

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The AMSYSTEMS Center In 2016, TNO and High Tech Systems Center of the Eindhoven University of Technology founded the AMSYSTEMS Center, a joint innovation center to develop the next generation additive manufacturing production equipment for smart, personalized and multi-functional products. Additive manufacturing (AM) concerns methods whereby products are produced layer by layer, such as 3D-printing. The AMSYSTEMS Center targets high-tech applications, 3D printed electronic devices, 3D printed food and pharma applications with spin-off to other markets that require personalized, customized, on-demand manufacturing. At the heart of the Brainport / Eindhoven region The AMSYSTEMS center is at the heart of the Brainport region and has a strong link with the Dutch Smart Industry action agenda. It also has established the Smart Industry Fieldlab MultiM3D and received an investment grant for a pilot line additive manufacturing (PrintValley2020) to be operated at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC). Scientific and… One way of increasing the throughput is by realizing the layer wise process steps (such as powder recoating, heating and selectively laser sintering) in parallel. AMSYSTEMS Center has patented technology that does this by placing the process steps in a carousel, hereby optimizing the effective print time. The current carrousel system has approximately 3 time s faster production speeds than the conventional batch-wise processes. A n additional advantage is the possibility to integrate additional process steps without affecting the system throughput, such as quality control, multi material deposition, and the integration of components. Another advantage of the carrousel approach is the short access times after a single product has been finished, the operator can take the product from the carrousel without waiting for the whole batch to be finished. This is realized by a continuous in-and outflow of empty build-trays and finished products, and thereby minimizing waiting times and obtaining the shortest lead…. http://amsystemscenter.com/facilities/
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Solliance

Netherlands: North Brabant

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The research organisation Solliance is a joint venture of ECN, TNO and imec and was  founded in 2010 to combine their forces in field of next generation thin film solar cells and their application.  Together with the academic partners TU Eindhoven, University of Hasselt, TU Delft and Forschungszentrum Jülich, Solliance participates in the global research into the solar technology of the future and its use.
Solliance has pilot research lines for OPV, Perovskite and CIGS-based thin film photo-voltaic (PV) solar foil and sheets. It has extensive facilities for their structural, performance and durability characterisation as well as for technology development for their use in PV solar modules and integration into buildings and infrastructure.. Industries and SMEs can become a member of the comprehensive Solliance network. The network includes universities, research centres and leading companies in fields such as solar energy, machine building, chemicals, construction and automotive and a membership allows to stay up to date with all the latest developments.

Industries and SMEs can take part in one of Solliances Shared Research Programmes (SRP). Together with others, you can participate in the development of promising technologies or processes in the field of thin film PV. The total R&D budget of a SRP is composed of the financial contributions of individual participants plus grants, which increases the possibilities and limits the risks. Participants in a programme obtain the right to use any knowledge generated.

Industries and SMEs can partner with Solliance in a specific project. We provide the expertise and infrastructure and we work together on the R&D. Projects are mainly focused on a new application of thin film PV or integrating it…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Brightlands Materials Center (BMC)

Netherlands: Limburg

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Welcome to our world of plastics!
Polymeric materials, or plastics, offer great opportunities for a large variety of new applications. For a sustainable world, a circular economy, and therefore the end-of-use of plastics based applications, is an important factor the Brightlands Materials center considers.

The world population will continue to grow in the 21st century to become nine billion by 2050. The need for new sustainable products and materials will grow with it as well. This asks for an efficient way of using and re-using materials. The Brightlands Materials Center will take up this responsibility and dedicate its research and development programs and other activities to a sustainable society.

The Brightlands Materials Center fuels the polymeric field with knowledge, talent and entrepreneurship by bringing universities, students, industry leaders and business professionals all together in shared research programs and the inspiring community of the Brightlands Materials Center.

The themes of… Additive Manufacturing

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printer

Stereolithography (SLA) printer

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printer

Various mechanical property testers (e.g. tensile tester, Notch impact tester)

Various polymer characterization testers (e.g. DSC, TGA, melt flow indexer)

 

Lightweight Automotive

Pilot compounder with side feeder

Pilot extruder with film blowing

Pilot injection molding machine

Injection over-moulding machine (for over-moulding of composites and electronics with polymer)

Tensile, compression, flexure, shear and torsion tester

 

Sustainable Buildings - Sustainable Energy

Pilot equipment for colloidal nanoparticle synthesis (atmospheric and hydrothermal)

Pilot equipment for coating of glass and other materials

Mini-compounder (3-5 gram polymer) with extrusion options (fiber, foil, injection mold)

Optical and electronical characterization (e.g. UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer)
. Development and testing of new polymers for additive manufacturing products.

Focus applications: automotive (spare) parts, biomedical scaffolds

 

Development and testing of light-weight automotive (long fiber) composite parts.

Focus area’s: overmoulding of composites and electronics, recycling, property prediction

 

Development and testing of new (nano)composite coatings.

Focus area’s: optical functional coatings and foils for buildings and automotive.

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

DAMRC F.M.B.A.

Denmark: Central Jutland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Mission: DAMRC – a research and development center for advanced machining technologies that develops and transforms the latest knowledge into practical solutions in close collaboration with universities for the benefit of Danish industrial companies' global competitiveness.

Vision: Be the preferred research center for the Nordic manufacturing industry that generates the most value and technology driven business in Denmark

DAMRC is driven by the industry with a high number of industry in the Board of Directors, Technical committee as well as Educational Committee

The business model is divided into

R&D activities
Education
Technology Transfer.

R&D activities include

The first (only) in the world to successfully generate a surface roughness below 1 micron (Ra) in thermal sprayed ZrO2 (TBC - diamond like surface) by milling (0,52 micron)
Driving down process time from 45 minutes to 29 seconds in hole making in Inconel 718
Only provider of VSR-treatment in the Nordic countries
… Mazak Variaxis i600 - Mazak Integrex i300 S - Mazak Quick Turn 25

DMG NLX2500/700 - DMG CMX 70U - DMG NHX 6300 High Torque - Pre-setter

Kasto Win A 4,6

Tesa Micro-Hite 3D - 4545

Steinbichler 3D Scanner

Wilson Hardness - Rockwell 574 digital

MAHR MarSurf PS1

Leica Absolute Tracker AT901

Kistler Multicomponent Dynamomemeter

Zoller Venturion 450

Metalmax TXF Tap Testing Equipment including Harmonizer

Vibratory Stress Relief (VSR) Model 8
. R&D

Scoping, partnering, project management and participating in international R&D projects focusing on machining technologies, additive manufacturing and handling of residual stresses by vibration technologies

Training

vocational - basic and excellent of apprentices for a number of vocational training schools
university supporting specialized training in machining related topics in a number of universities
specialized industrial training targeting training of highly specialized technical staff within machining technologies

Technology Transfer

Transfer of technology and consultancy in specific companies (primarily targeting SMEs) within technologies such as milling, drilling, turning, vibratory stress relief and additive manufacturing.

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Sirris

Belgium: Brussels Region

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Sirris is the collective centre for and by the technological industry. We offer Belgian companies three key assets to help them remain innovative: years of experience and comprehensive expertise in a wide range of industries; high-tech testing infrastructure spread across the country; and an extensive network of partners. This way we help large and smaller players in Belgian industry make the right technological choices and achieve sustainable economic growth.

Every year we help on 3,000 occasions in 1,500 industrial companies, 75% of which are SMEs.

Our portfolio contains nearly 5,000 customers and we have more than 2,500 member companies.

We have over 140 in-house experts spread over 8 different sites in Belgium.

Founded in 1949 by Agoria, the Federation of the technological industry.

Our wide-ranging network comprises universities, research centres, companies, associations and other institutions from all over Belgium and Europe. We exchange staff, knowledge and… The high-tech testing infrastructure spread across Belgium comprises equipment in following doimains:

Advanced Manufacturing:

Precision Manufacturing (high precision five axis milling machine (accuracy in micrometer range, LASEA femtosecond laser texturing,  3D metal printer),

Additive Manufacturing (AM-lab with an extensive number of AM technologies in metals, polymers and ceramics, pilot for AM integrated factory),

Microfabrication (milling, EDM, micro injection moulding),

Cobots and Flexible Automation, Digitization of Manufacturing,

Materials:

coatings (PVD/HiPIMS, wet chemical & robot supported, Aerosol Jet Printing),

composites (application lab),

casting (pilot foundry),

plastic & hybrid materials processing.

ICT & Data Analytics

Offshore Wind Infrastructure Application Lab (large climate chamber, wind turbine monitoring)

. Sirris, as a non-profit organisation, offers a broad range of services for SME (esp. SMEs). 

individual support at every step along the way, from the drawing board stage right through to prototype development and pilot tests for finished products.
access to high-tech testing infrastructure,
training,
business development, supporting the set-up of innovation projects,
development of roadmaps and technology watch service. 

Companies retain ownership of the results of any cooperation, such as innovative applications or solutions. The acquired know-how remains available at the collective centre for other companies to exploit. This way we also help other companies, and thus industry as a whole, to forge ahead.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology