SMART, the new EUREKA Advanced Manufacturing research program, will offer leading industrial sectors the opportunity to include their own priorities in the research and development of advanced processes, products and services, to meet the challenges and take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution that is taking place at the moment and will have a profound impact on the future of industrial manufacturing. SMART will submit the Cluster applicant label before the end of the Spanish chairmanship next July 2017.
At present, 70 organisations, distributed among 9 countries - Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, France, Finland, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey - have expressed their interest in participating in future SMART projects.
Aernnova, Airbus Operations, B/S/H, Ensa, Mondragon, Grupo Antolin, Royo Group, Idesa and Navantia initiated the creation of SMART, with the full support of the present Spanish EUREKA Chair.
“European Manufacturing Industry needs a new EUREKA Cluster on Manufacturing Technology, since there is no other instrument around that could meet the demand for industry-driven, nationally funded, internationally executed, innovation projects (with high technology readiness level)”, said EUREKA High Level Group Chairman Francisco Marin.
Likewise, a number of European companies: Alshtom, C.R.Fiat, CEI, Comau, D´Appolonia, Festo, Iberomoldes, Maksima, Prima Industries, Sinapse, Renishaw, Schneider-Electric, Siemens and others have already confirmed their interest and support to the creation of SMART.
They understand that European Manufacturing Industries need to complement existing financing instruments with a new flexible R+D+I Program on Advanced Manufacturing positioned on the demand for industry-driven, nationally funded, internationally executed, high technology readiness level innovation projects.
A Technology Roadmap, covering aerospace, automotive, railway, capital goods, consumer durables sectors, has been presented.
Above industries invite all European manufacturing companies and all stakeholders on Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing to confirm their interest on this new R+D+I financing instrument.
More on EUREKA Clusters
Further details can be found at www.smartam.eu: full presentation, Technology Roadmap, White Paper and the Support Form they are receiving from those companies interested in SMART
Receive the Funding Newswire each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.
