Periodic Reporting for period 2 - iPRODUCE (A Social Manufacturing Framework for Streamlined Multi-stakeholder Open Innovation Missions in Consumer Goods Sectors)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-07-01 bis 2023-06-30
Democratized innovation holds undeniable promise for European producers, but the integration with corporate innovation practices is in its infancy, and is still neither easy or efficient for SMEs to benefit from collaborative production. The iPRODUCE project has taken proven concepts and approaches (DIY manufacturing, FabLabs, Makerspaces), and upscaled and installed them in well-connected multi-stakeholder ecosystems under an umbrella concept of collaborative Manufacturing Demonstration Facilities (cMDF).
The project objectives included:
1. To define a social manufacturing framework (SMF) for the collaborative design, engineering and manufacturing of consumer goods by engaging manufacturers, makers and consumers (MMCs) in relevant open innovation (OI) challenges.
2. To create and establish local cMDFs by interconnecting and enriching existing micro-manufacturing facilities. Local stakeholders will join the facilities.
3. To develop and deploy a digital platform that will facilitate the activities of the local cMDFs and will allow them to operate both independently and under an european-wide federated structure
4. To develop and deploy a set of digital tools that will stimulate co-creation and open innovation in the consumer goods sectors, etc.
5. To devise novel sharing economy business models and IPR management strategies and tools to simplify and automate multi-stakeholder interactions.
6. To integrate the social manufacturing framework, the digital platform and the digital tools into a social manufacturing space.
7. To demonstrate the proposed social manufacturing space through pilot cMDFs and open innovation missions.
This digital space –called OpiS- was deployed in cMDFs across Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Germany. Each cMDF represents an industrial sector, such as furniture, automotive, medical, electronics and microelectronics.
The heart of the iPRODUCE digital space is a set of innovative tools to enable the application of co-creation approaches. These tools cover matchmaking, secure interactions, generative product design, process orchestration, agile prototyping, usability evaluations, etc. plus a strong social component that aims at easing engagement and participation. Other tools, more specific to cMDFs, included a cMDF training platform, a data analytics and visualisation suite, and a video intelligence tool that allows automatic analysis and transcription of videos, as well as exchange among multiple remote users
The platform enabled SMEs, maker communities and consumers to tap into collective knowledge, gaining insights and support for manufacturing processes.
Positive experiences demonstrated how a social manufacturing framework like OPiS can effectively integrate both digital and human/social approaches to open innovation.
The project objectives included:
1. To define a social manufacturing framework (SMF) for the collaborative design, engineering and manufacturing of consumer goods by engaging manufacturers, makers and consumers (MMCs) in relevant open innovation (OI) challenges.
2. To create and establish local cMDFs by interconnecting and enriching existing micro-manufacturing facilities. Local stakeholders will join the facilities.
3. To develop and deploy a digital platform that will facilitate the activities of the local cMDFs and will allow them to operate both independently and under an european-wide federated structure
4. To develop and deploy a set of digital tools that will stimulate co-creation and open innovation in the consumer goods sectors, etc.
5. To devise novel sharing economy business models and IPR management strategies and tools to simplify and automate multi-stakeholder interactions.
6. To integrate the social manufacturing framework, the digital platform and the digital tools into a social manufacturing space.
7. To demonstrate the proposed social manufacturing space through pilot cMDFs and open innovation missions.
This digital space –called OpiS- was deployed in cMDFs across Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Germany. Each cMDF represents an industrial sector, such as furniture, automotive, medical, electronics and microelectronics.
The heart of the iPRODUCE digital space is a set of innovative tools to enable the application of co-creation approaches. These tools cover matchmaking, secure interactions, generative product design, process orchestration, agile prototyping, usability evaluations, etc. plus a strong social component that aims at easing engagement and participation. Other tools, more specific to cMDFs, included a cMDF training platform, a data analytics and visualisation suite, and a video intelligence tool that allows automatic analysis and transcription of videos, as well as exchange among multiple remote users
The platform enabled SMEs, maker communities and consumers to tap into collective knowledge, gaining insights and support for manufacturing processes.
Positive experiences demonstrated how a social manufacturing framework like OPiS can effectively integrate both digital and human/social approaches to open innovation.
During its life (M1-M42), iPRODUCE has been taken succesive steps through the final results of its social manufacturing framework:
• Setup of the local collaborative Demonstration facilities (cMDFs) comprising the operating structure, and the related communities -ecosystems- of stakeholders, as well as their governance principles.
• Definition of the iPRODUCE Open Innovation Space (OpIS) Architecture.
• Development of the iPRODUCE software Tools. Initial operating versions for integration in a unified framework.
• Final definition of the Platform Architecture, complete tools development and integration of the tools in the Platform.
• Consolidation of the cMDFs through engagement with communities. Launching of the physical-digital Hubs.
• Test and validation of the developed framework and final operational refinement.
• Definition of the business models for the individual cMDFs and the Platform.
• Deployment of an outreach campaign.
At the end of the project,
• A modular platform aimed at fostering co-creation in the consumer goods sector has been developed. Its Marketplace now features some 30 projects developed with the help of the community.
• 5 cMDFs currently active and developing open innovation ventures. Branding and promotion of the cMDFs.
• Involvement of the stakeholder communities, which have been provided with an engagement and activity plan during the project. An average of 20 relevant stakeholders linked to each cMDF.
• Specific innovative tools (both methodological and software), training and mentoring material developed for the cMDFs as co-creation hubs.
• Proof of concept and real-scenario testing of the developed models (19 Use cases, including 1 inter-cMDF case, plus open competitions).
• Individual BMs defined for each cMDF. Exploitation routes designed for each software tool.
• The project engaged some 1500 stakeholders in near 50 events, including warm up-events, engagement sessions, seminars, open competitions and hackathons.
• As part of our journey to impact, iPRODUCE has developed 31 videos, issued 8 newsletters, participated in 38 events and its web page has featured some 13000 unique visitors during the project life.
• Setup of the local collaborative Demonstration facilities (cMDFs) comprising the operating structure, and the related communities -ecosystems- of stakeholders, as well as their governance principles.
• Definition of the iPRODUCE Open Innovation Space (OpIS) Architecture.
• Development of the iPRODUCE software Tools. Initial operating versions for integration in a unified framework.
• Final definition of the Platform Architecture, complete tools development and integration of the tools in the Platform.
• Consolidation of the cMDFs through engagement with communities. Launching of the physical-digital Hubs.
• Test and validation of the developed framework and final operational refinement.
• Definition of the business models for the individual cMDFs and the Platform.
• Deployment of an outreach campaign.
At the end of the project,
• A modular platform aimed at fostering co-creation in the consumer goods sector has been developed. Its Marketplace now features some 30 projects developed with the help of the community.
• 5 cMDFs currently active and developing open innovation ventures. Branding and promotion of the cMDFs.
• Involvement of the stakeholder communities, which have been provided with an engagement and activity plan during the project. An average of 20 relevant stakeholders linked to each cMDF.
• Specific innovative tools (both methodological and software), training and mentoring material developed for the cMDFs as co-creation hubs.
• Proof of concept and real-scenario testing of the developed models (19 Use cases, including 1 inter-cMDF case, plus open competitions).
• Individual BMs defined for each cMDF. Exploitation routes designed for each software tool.
• The project engaged some 1500 stakeholders in near 50 events, including warm up-events, engagement sessions, seminars, open competitions and hackathons.
• As part of our journey to impact, iPRODUCE has developed 31 videos, issued 8 newsletters, participated in 38 events and its web page has featured some 13000 unique visitors during the project life.
The iPRODUCE project platform, structured as a marketplace where the user may get creative, investigate their ideas, team up in search of additional competences and finally showcase their work, links the physical world (micro-manufacturing facilities, research infrastructures, makers-spaces) with solutions that facilitate and stimulate the adoption of the co-creation approach, such as Generative Design techniques, AR/VR technologies, Smart Contracting, where IPR management strategies will be broken down into standardised rules and provisions in natural language (An authoring tool will allow non-expert use), etc.. iPRODUCE will also provide cMDFs with a toolset for effectively documenting lessons learned and best practices, while our developed social manufacturing methodologies and approaches can actively involve a large group of diverse stakeholders (i.e. makers and consumers) in the process of products’ inception, design, and manufacturing.
The expected impacts -most of them validated- within the project time span- include:
1. A novel social manufacturing framework, together with all the necessary methods, strategies and tools.
2. Novel business models and business-like methods that support collaborative production.
3. Our digital open innovation platform and the cMDFs are designed to offer a strong interactive value co-creation environment.
4. Integration: Communities will be able to design and develop attractive and tailor-made products at an industrial-scale.
5. Involvement of citizens and consumers in the co-creation of knowledge and co-design of products.
6. Valuable novel knowledge and empirical evidence within the multi-disciplinary research domain of collaborative production.
7. Enhancement of participatory and sharing culture in society.
The results of the iPRODUCE project are expected to contribute to the ongoing development and growing popularity of open innovation.
iPRODUCE aims to further consolidate cMDFs as local communities of open innovation manufacturing. The tools – and the platform itself - will also continue to be developed over the next two years, to make OpIS even more user friendly. The idea is that this will provide operational capacity and skills for more cost-effective and sustainable production lines in the future.
The expected impacts -most of them validated- within the project time span- include:
1. A novel social manufacturing framework, together with all the necessary methods, strategies and tools.
2. Novel business models and business-like methods that support collaborative production.
3. Our digital open innovation platform and the cMDFs are designed to offer a strong interactive value co-creation environment.
4. Integration: Communities will be able to design and develop attractive and tailor-made products at an industrial-scale.
5. Involvement of citizens and consumers in the co-creation of knowledge and co-design of products.
6. Valuable novel knowledge and empirical evidence within the multi-disciplinary research domain of collaborative production.
7. Enhancement of participatory and sharing culture in society.
The results of the iPRODUCE project are expected to contribute to the ongoing development and growing popularity of open innovation.
iPRODUCE aims to further consolidate cMDFs as local communities of open innovation manufacturing. The tools – and the platform itself - will also continue to be developed over the next two years, to make OpIS even more user friendly. The idea is that this will provide operational capacity and skills for more cost-effective and sustainable production lines in the future.