Pere Relats, chair of amec, and Xavier Torra, chair of Eurecat, have inked a partnership agreement to jointly support industrial companies’ innovation and transformation, a key factor in the new competitiveness. The community of internationalised industrial companies and the tech centre are now working to make it easier for businesses to put in place new innovation and Industry 4.0 projects.
The partnership agreement broadens the scope of its predecessor, signed in 2018, as the services to be delivered include proactive development of companies’ innovation and technological capabilities, the option of joint participation in international projects, setting up a technology watch service and running specialised courses and training.
amec and Eurecat have already started working closely with businesses to foster and roll out innovation projects which bring added value to industry. Dozens of amec members have attended regular meetings where the most useful Industry 4.0 applications for industrial firms are unveiled with practical examples. The key topics covered by Eurecat experts are artificial intelligence applications, 3D printing and the importance and usefulness of mounting sensors on equipment. At these sessions amec staff outline the grants and aid available to industrial businesses to help them carry out their projects. Attendance by a large number of these enterprises is indicative of industry’s huge interest in innovation and change. Many of the businesses subsequently choose to sign up for one-on-one meetings with Eurecat and amec specialists who conduct case-by-case analysis including advising on how a specific project can be undertaken and how to fund it.
The agreement stipulates that Eurecat will provide its technological knowhow to businesses in domestic and international projects whether private or under public funding calls. Meanwhile amec will handle the calls for applications and help with securing public aid for the projects being promoted in order to bring them to fruition.
The two organisations will team up to unlock opportunities and synergies for shared actions and R&D tenders abroad leading to international partnerships and projects.
Technology foresight and watch
The agreement also specifies that amec and Eurecat are to conduct technology foresight and watch projects together. They will include a technology watch service on packaging and packaging equipment, an industry which is undergoing far-reaching change to meet new sustainability and circular economy requirements, and on the food process and food processing equipment.
The two organisations are also to pool resources to drive training and talent projects relevant to internationalised industrial companies in predictive maintenance, the Internet of Industrial Things, remote support, Executives 4.0, textile industry sustainability, and circular and digital transformation.
“Now is the time for the country’s industry to take a qualitative step forward to stay competitive against a global backdrop of far-reaching transformation,” says Pere Relats, chair of amec. He thinks it is crucial “to build a public-private ecosystem and partnership which runs as smoothly as possible.”
“Technological innovation will be critical in driving recovery and competitiveness in all industries,” adds Xavier Torra, chair of Eurecat. This is in an ever-changing scenario where “Eurecat seeks to partner with companies so they can get a head start by bringing in the technological solutions needed to seize opportunities and successfully address challenges.”
