Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencia Region

Knowledge Economy Forum VInnovation and Technology Absorption for Growth Prague, March 28-30, 2006.

Bruno Broseta , PhD “Technology Absorption”

Index

1.- Innovation: A General Framework

2. Innovation and Structural Change in Regional Economies: The Valencia Region (Spain)

2.1 Firm Size, Barriers to Innovation and the Innovation Cycle2.2 Structural Change in Industrial Sectors

3. The Role of Technological Institutes: REDIT

3.1 REDIT and the Technological Institutes (TIs)3.2 TIs Portfolio of Services and Industrial R&D

4. Case Studies: Collective Research & Technology Absorption.

4.1 TI in Production Processes (Input Substitution): Ceramics4.2 R&D to Open New Markets: Footwear Customization

5.- Conclusions

1.- Innovation:A general framework

Types of Innovation:• “Technological”: product and process• Organisational• Marketing & Service

DEFINITION: “From the point of view of the firm, an innovation is the implementation of a new solution

aiming at enhancing its competitive position, its performance, or its know-how”. (OSLO MANUAL 3,

11/2005)

Concerns the firm's Value Chain (Porter, 1985): generation of

sustainable competitive advantages. Innovation capacity is not always R&D related.

2.- Innovation And Structural Change in Regional Economies:

The Valencia Region (Spain)

Valencia Region

Regional Factors Substantially Affect the Innovative Capacity of Firms

2.1 Firm Size, Barriers to Innovation and the Innovation

Cycle

Barriers to Innovation for SMEs

SMEs face nontrivial problems to endogeneize R&D

and Innovation processes:

Risk factors: technical, market Cost factors: internal/external financial constraints Knowledge factors: human ressources,

organizational rigidities,….

+ Innova

tion

The Innovation Cycle for SME’s

Lab Tests Training Legislative Surveillance

Quality Product & Systems Certification

Technological Audits Prototyping

Business Intelligence

Product Development

R&D

2.2 Structural Change in Industrial Sectors

Low and Medium Technology Industries (LMTs) can represent an important share of regional GDP and employment, and have a substantial impact on economic growth.

Traditionally, LMTs are involved with incremental Innovation and Technology Absorption. They can, however, develop High Technlogy products and processes.

LMTs are especially affected by globalisation and its competitive pressures: need for managing structural change in industrial sectors through Innovation.

3.- The Role of Technological Institutes:

REDIT

REDIT The Network of Technological Institutes

THE NETWORK

A corporate support infrastructure to develop scale economies and generate synergies by exploiting R&D and Technological complementarities between the TIs.

THE TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTES

Public-Private Partnership: the TIs are private institutions with strong ties to the

regional Government. The TIs cover traditional manufacturing sectors (textile, footwear, wood and

furniture, ceramics...) as well as horizontal technologies (IST, Energy, Optics,

Transport & Logistics, Biomechanics …). Portfolio of high added value R&D and technological services to SMEs and Public

Agencies (International activities)

ITENE,

AIDICO, Construction.

AIDO, Optics, Colour and Image.

AIMME, Metallurgical.

AINIA, Agro-Food.

INESCOP, Leather & Footwear.

ITI, Computer Science.

ITC, Ceramics & Cer. Design

AICE,

AIDIMA, Wood, Furniture & Packaging.

AIJU, Toys.

AIMPLAS, Plastic.

AITEX, Textile.

IBV, Biomechanics.

ITE, Energy.

ITENE, Packaging, Transport and Logistic.

REDIT covers both manufacturing sectors as well as the new IST and horizontal technologies.

What is REDIT? The Technological Institutes

REDIT in numbers:TIs Income by Origin (Aggregated,

2004)

Spanish Govmt10%

UE Funds10%

Private Sector50%

Regional Gvmt.30%

3.3 TI’s Porfolio of Services and Industrial R&D

REDIT Portfolio of Services to SMEs

Buiding Long Term Partnerships through an integrated,

high added value portfolio of R&D and technological

services to SMEs

R&D Projects: Public-Competitive, Private Contract

Innovation Support Activities:

Advanced Technological Services.

Technological Transfer and Diffusion.

Portfolio of Services:Building Long Term Relationships

with Businesses

R&D

Technological Transfer & Diffusion

Technological Services

+ In

nova

tion

Portfolio of Services: Industrial R&D

“Getting together business needs and scientific-technological knowledge generation”

Basic R&D inCooperation

Innovation Support

Applied R&D

Technological Services

Technology Transfer

Industrial R&D

Identification and development of specific technologies, linked to

future business oportunities

Companies & Associates

29%

Universities37%

REDIT25%

Public Research Centers

9%

V FP :Region of Valencia’sParticipation by Organisms

Region of Valencia

FP5 Return 58,2 MM euros

REDIT

FP5 Return 14.6 MM euros

Projects: 84

EU FPs: Finding the Right Partners

Portfolio of Services: Innovation

Advanced Technological Services:

• Environment.• Quality and Industrial Security.• Industrial Risks Prevention.• Product Design.• Products and Systems Certification.• Laboratory Test and Analysis.• Information Society. E-mail.• Technological and Sectorial Research.• Technological Assessments and Audits.• Prototyping

Portfolio of Services: Innovation

Technological Transfer and Diffusion

• Technological training.• Information and Diffusion.• Business Intelligence.• Legislative Surveillance.• Sectorial Normalization.• Technological Information.• Market and Sectorial Observatories.• Technology Transfer.

4.- Case Studies:Collective Research &

Technology Absorption

4.1 Alternatives to zirconium in ceramic materials.

Technological Institute of Ceramic Materials (ITC)

Problem Adressed

Zirconium (SiO2.ZrO2) is an essential component to obtain engobes and white/opaque enamels. Produced in Australia and South Africa.

Zirconium Supply Shocks: price increases up to 100%.

Unacceptable increases in ceramics manufacturing costs

A case for TI in production processes:input substitution

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Transversal Section of a Ceramic Material

enamel

engobe

clay support

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Actions

Cooperation: Collective Research

ANFFECC (National Association of Enamels and Ceramic Colors Manufacturers) comissioned from the ITC a research about Zirconium alternatives, which was financed by the Regional Government.

Collective IP Rights (Firms)

CO N SEL L ER IA D 'IN D U STR IA , CO M ER Ç I EN ER G IA

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Actions

Research Agenda:

Analysis of chemical & physical mechanisms of zirconium opacification in engobes and enameled ceramics

Research about alternatives to zirconium, with equivalent opacification mechanisms.

Technical-Economic optimization of engobes and enameled ceramics compositions, when free from zirconium (or with a smaller proportion).

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Actions

Research Results:

Some new compositions have been formulated, rich in alumina and free from zirconium, which make it possible to obtain engobes with similar qualities to those obtained with important zirconium contents.

Enamel compositions have been formulated, rich in talcum and with a low content of zirconium (5%), with similar qualities to the usual zirconium glazed ceramics (10% of zirconium)

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Engobe Results

40

45

50

55

60

65

90 110 130 150 170 190 210

Precio del silicato de circonio micronizado (pts/Kg)

Pre

cio

del

en

go

be

(pts

/Kg

)E-R

E-N

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Zirc.Alt.

Enaled Ceramic Results

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

90 110 130 150 170 190 210

Precio del silicato de circonio micronizado (pts/Kg)

Pre

cio

del

vid

riad

o (

pts

/Kg

) V-R

V-5Zr,5T/2

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

Zirc.

Alt.

Research Results: Conclusions

Deeper knowledge of chemical & physical foundations of opacification mechanisms (Inorganic Chemistry)

Technical and economically viable alternatives to zirconium use as an opacifier in engobes and enamels.

Improved (cost) competitiveness of ceramics industry in the event of future zirconium supply shocks.

Instituto de Tecnología Cerámica

4.2 FOOTWARE CUSTOMIZATION:

ERGOSHOE – DIAFOOT

Technological Institute for Footwear and Related Industries (INESCOP)

Problems Adressed

Different types of users and necessities imply different requirements in footwear design & production:

• Children• Workers (security footwear)• Patients with special needs (diabetic foot)• People searching functionality and better ergonomic issues.

These requirements, in turn, are grouped into sets of

relevant technical and functional criteria.

These criteria are often difficult to satisfy by footwear manufacturers because of:

• made-to-measure manufacturing • high response times • prohibitive costs(Exception: orthopaedic and sport footwear).

Part of the Solution……

ERGOSHOE: Innovative Methods and Criteria for Production of Customized ShoesVI FP Project

DIAFOOT: Remote Monitoring of Diabetic FeetEuropean Union IST/e-health project

Main Objective

Introduction of new methods and criteria among users, clients and manufacturers, which lead to production of made-to-measure footwear:

– In an effective way– Reasonable costs– Respecting functionality criteria according to

different sorts of users

Specific Objectives

Transfer new digital design and production technologies to footwear sector, maintaining low costs and convenient technical features.

Address the demands of footwear users improving ergonomic and therapeutic issues.

Open new markets and increase competitiveness of the footwear sector through technological innovation. Possibility of radical changes in supply chain conditions.

Pilot Actions (March 2006)

Four pilot actions: in different countries, with the participation of footwear manufacturers and suppliers (SMEs), clients & specialised groups of users:

– Pilot Safety– Pilot Children– Pilot Health– Pilot Casual shoes

Main Objective

Diabetes Mellitus is an important sanitary problem in European countries. Symptoms: lack of sensibility in feet could end in severe amputations

It has a big impact on the quality of life of millions of citizens and also on the economy of national health services.

Design of a preventive remote system for monitoring diabetic patients, capable of measuring pressures and temperatures in feet and send data for clinical analysis and, if necessary, therapeutic action.

The System

Results

Better clinical attention and continuous control of patients.

Diabetic feet protocol.

Reduction in hospitalisation costs (prevention of amputations).

Improved design and materials.

5.- Conclusions

REDIT Information

C/ Colón nº6646004 ValenciaSpain

Ph. 34+961 961 262Fx. 34+961 961 260redit@redit.eswww.redit.esredit@redit.es

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