Digitizing European industry is essential for European competitivity in the 21st century, but only 1/5 of EU SMEs is highly digitized. Laser Based Advanced and Additive Manufacturing (LBAAM) technologies are regarded as Key Enablers for Digital Production and offer important advantages to the adopters. SMEs have strong entry barriers for the technology: Investment cost, technology complexity, system integration and awareness/adoption readiness. PULSATE aims to lower all said barriers to boost the adoption of Laser Based technologies by SMEs and promote the development of SME-friendly laser based equipment and solutions.
PULSATE will establish a Pan-European Network to stimulate SMEs to take part in Innovation Ecosystem of LBAAM, by connecting Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) to a support structure of knowledge, infrastructure and services, designed to tackle the issues currently limiting the adoption of LBAAM technology. A balanced combination is proposed between wide outreach using interconnected Virtual Communities and ICT tools (a Single Entry Point will connect a wide range of networking and servicing tools), and close exchange and interaction via DIHs.
The project relies on a consortium of 6 competence centres (AIMEN, FTMC, MTC, SINTEF, Fraunhofer, CEA), service community and marketplace providers (FBA, CLESGO) and a photonics industry association (EPIC). With >50 previous projects outcomes, existing tools and services, connections with 74 running DIHs, Clusters and regional initiatives, PULSATE counts with the explicit support of companies and institutions (>80LoS), and an independent Board of Stakeholders gathering key players in LBAAM will ensure the quality and pertinence of PULSATE orientation.
PULSATE will operate under 4 action areas: Business, Technology, Competence & Awareness, addressing the following technology domains: Nano/Micro Fabrication, AM, High Power Laser Manufacturing and Digitization, and implementing 4 Open Calls and a catalogue of services.
PULSATE project has already launched 2 open calls for Technology transfer experiments and 1 open call for Adopter's use cases.
The projects that were chosen during the first open call for technology transfer experiments are currently receiving their funding but also support from our competence centres. You could see a list of these projects with details here:
https://www.pulsate.eu/success-stories/
During the first open call for adopters use cases have been chosen 18 projects which will start the program during Autumn 2022.
During Autumn, project PULSATE will also launch the Digital Agora – vibrant market place with simple goal to boost cooperation and share knowledge within the community of Laser-based Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Adopters.
