PROSURF – a project for the promotion and support of SME research and innovation

Citation

Dalrymple, I. (2006), "PROSURF – a project for the promotion and support of SME research and innovation", Circuit World, Vol. 32 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2006.21732bab.001

PROSURF – a project for the promotion and support of SME research and innovation

PROSURF – a project for the promotion and support of SME research and innovation

Keywords: Electronics industry, Printed circuits, Research and development

PROSURF is a Co-ordination Action Project, which is taking place with the financial support of the European Community's Sixth Framework Programme. The project is focussed on the development and implementation of a research and innovation strategy for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and their groupings in two SME-intensive industry sectors: surface finishing and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. The two sectors are closely aligned with respect to the generic technological innovations that are required to meet future challenges, with both having similar market, environmental, legislative and societal issues that need to be addressed.

With the objective of increasing involvement in framework programme research, particularly emerging and future European RTD activities and programmes, the central project aims are:

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  analysis and benchmarking of sectoral technological and business/market needs;

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  integration of SME sectoral research needs through exchange and dissemination of information and networking; and

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  facilitation of SME innovation in target sectors by establishing best practice.

The project objectives are to build both the capacity and capability of SMEs to innovate through greater involvement in research. The aims are to strengthen SME competitiveness in both the medium and longer term, through increasing knowledge and awareness of high-technology methods in these traditional industries. A central aim is the development of new sustainable technologies with the capacity to transform these sectors and this requires co-ordination at a EU level in order to enable relevant research of the highest quality to be delivered. These SME dominated industries have large numbers of members in Europe, with the majority employing less than 20 people. The vast majority of these companies are also categorised as SMEs in terms of turnover. The biggest group (53 per cent) has an annual sales volume of between 1 and 5 million euros.

Both industries rely heavily on a multitude of chemical processes, many of which are potentially toxic and capable of causing significant damage to the environment. The implementation of environmental legislation will continue at an enhancing rate, with important implications for manufacturing costs and competitiveness. SMEs currently have no option but to use solutions containing toxic and corrosive chemicals such as strong acids, and solutions containing species such as cadmium, chromium VI and cyanide.

Stronger European legislation is bringing about justifiable reductions in the environmental impact from these industries. The majority of past research initiatives involving these SMEs has been focussed on controlling and reducing the environmental impact of current technologies. Design elements of new production technologies must take into account end of life recycling issues. Environmental legislation such as the WEEE Directive is focussing industry attention on the increasing levels of electronic equipment that are being disposed of and encouraging the recycling of the materials they contain.

The current and future challenges to the competitiveness of these sectors have an impact at a European level. These businesses must introduce innovative new processes and products in order to prosper in the increasingly competitive global market. The threat from other world regions such as the Far East, where labour, social and environmental costs are much lower, is well known.

Some important technological advances are being achieved in these industries. Environmental legislative pressures have been a driving force for innovations such as the development of the lead-free solder alloys that are increasingly being used in PCB assembly and the partial replacement of carcinogenic chromium VI in metal finishing coatings.

Although a great deal of EU research funding has been invested, significant technological advances are still required to increase the range, complexity and value of products available. High-quality technological advances are most likely to be achieved through collaborative research linking SME manufacturing companies with multi-disciplinary research performers and all components of the supply chain. By establishing the mechanisms for the introduction of more sophisticated manufacturing technology and added value products through collaborative research, PROSURF will support the EU policy towards promotion of SME activities leading to improved employment prospects and increased skill levels.

The project will be promoted widely to SMEs in the participating and related sectors via a web-based delivery mechanism and other publicity and dissemination routes, using existing databases as a starting point. Dissemination will also be implemented directly to the SME base through participation in presentations and workshops, and through trade publications and exhibitions. The work plan is structured in three components:

1 analysis and benchmarking of sectoral technological and business/ market needs;

2 integration of SME sectoral research needs through exchange and dissemination of information and networking; and

3 facilitation of SME innovation in target sectors by establishing best practice in implementing the research strategy.

The aim is to advance the state of the art in this area with well-defined and quantified objectives such as:

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  detailed assessment of current industrial technologies, their limitations and future aims for technological developments;

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  specific economic intelligence analysing market trends, opportunities and societal factors;

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  technological intelligence with relevant details of emerging technologies and research;

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  road map defining future research strategy and addressing SME needs in the surface finishing and PCB sectors; and

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  formulation and dissemination of a best practice strategy to improve the level and extent of SME involvement in innovative research.

The important impact of these co-ordination actions will take time to be achieved. The initial impact will be the readiness of the sectors to achieve optimum research funding during the forthcoming European Union Framework Programme 7. The number and quality of research results and the impact of research innovations on SME competitiveness will only be realised in the medium to longer term.

For further information on the PROSURF Project contact Dr Ian Dalrymple at: ian.dalrymple@ctechinnovation.com

Ian DalrympleC-Tech Innovation Ltd, December 2005