Kick-off for significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in Europe

Transeuropean project "AMULET" with support from industry and science starts on 1 September 2021 – Reducing CO2 emissions to make a significantly contribution by using advanced materials

To create a decarbonised and efficient circular economy, it is essential to widely establish lightweight construction as a key technology. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have not yet fully scoop out the scientifically and technically achieved application potential of advanced lightweight materials. The trans-european project AMULET "Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies united for Lightweight" has therefore set itself the goal of developing the untapped innovation potential of SMEs in the field of lightweight construction and identifying new pan-european value chains for advanced lightweight materials. The AMULET-consortium is funded by the European Union in the course of the ‘Horizon 2020’ research and innovation programme (INNOSUP-1). The kick-off meeting for the project launch will take place on 6 September.

Establishing progressive lightweight materials in SMEs – Significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in the EU

The development and application of advanced lightweight materials, such as fibre-reinforced plastic composites, ceramic fibre composites and light metals, has already contributed to a significant reduction in weight with a simultaneous increase in performance in recent decades. Especially in the automotive industry, aerospace, energy industry and construction, the most important impulses in the field of lightweight construction have been and are still being achieved. Due to a lack of application knowledge as well as technical and financial resources, the potential of lightweight materials is currently not fully utilised by SMEs. However, a cross-sectoral, funded exchange of knowledge and the comprehensive network of the participating research clusters of over 1717 SMEs, 341 major companies and 93 universities, research and innovation institutes should make this possible in the future. The vision of the AMULET consortium is to make a significant contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions in the EU by strengthening innovative lightweight construction in SMEs. Another common goal of the cooperating research clusters, universities and research institutions as well as participating SMEs is to develop further, groundbreaking research and development projects on a European level from the developed solution approaches.

Three application steps – Thematic competitions and exchange of knowledge

The first application phase of the project serves to discuss and evaluate current technical challenges in the use of advanced lightweight materials in appropriately staffed expert groups. This will be followed by up to twelve thematic competitions in which the European consortia of SMEs will participate. Matchmaking events on site in selected partner countries help the networking and consortia formation of interested SMEs. In the second stage, the companies that have joined are requested to carry out a feasibility study. The demonstration of the solutions forms the third and final stage of the project, where the consortia receive financial support and rewards for their innovative approaches.

Financial and advisory support is not the only essential factor for the extended economic use of advanced lightweight materials: The generation of topic-specific technical and business knowledge is also required. A curriculum of at least twelve technical and six business management topics will be developed in the consortium for this purpose and then provided to SMEs via online platforms for the entire duration of the project. In addition to this learning content, webinars are offered on each topic area. Individual coaching sessions are available to exchange personal knowledge. The goal is well defined: make a significant contribution to a more sustainable and, above all, CO2-poorer EU.

For additional information, please contact Katharina Götz, project coordination AMULET, email katharina.goetz@mb.tu-chemnitz.de, phone +49 371 531-30497

(Author & Translation: Lena Rehm)

Mario Steinebach
23.08.2021

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