Image
Sirris, the collective innovation centre for the technological industry
Published on 19 February 2018
Belgium
Prov. Limburg (BE)
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The (technological) manufacturing industry needs to constantly innovate in order to stay competitive. Many companies (especially SMEs) do not have the capacity, resources or means to do this all by themselves. Sirris is established to offer (technological) support to companies. It helps companies to make the right strategic and technological choices. In order to make these choices it is essential that the technologies can be demonstrated to companies. Especially SMEs are less willing to implement new innovations if they have not seen and experienced it in practice. Sirris therefore offers companies LOW THRESHOLD ACCESS to high technological infrastructure and application labs specialized in future oriented technology. Sirris engineers, together with engineers from the companies TOGETHER work on innovative concepts (new products or processes). The goals and objectives are:
• Stimulating technological research and innovation with the aim to increase the quality and efficiency of manufacturing
• Coordinating scientific and technical documentation and informing the companies
• Innovation support to the related companies
Sirris proves that the combination of engineering support with state of the art infrastructure is key. The infrastructure is needed for testing and validation of the new products/processes. The fact that Sirris helps SMEs with very low entry barriers and thresholds makes it a good practice in the scope of the INNO_INFRA_SHARE project.
• Stimulating technological research and innovation with the aim to increase the quality and efficiency of manufacturing
• Coordinating scientific and technical documentation and informing the companies
• Innovation support to the related companies
Sirris proves that the combination of engineering support with state of the art infrastructure is key. The infrastructure is needed for testing and validation of the new products/processes. The fact that Sirris helps SMEs with very low entry barriers and thresholds makes it a good practice in the scope of the INNO_INFRA_SHARE project.
Resources needed
The total operating budget in 2016 was € 23.3 mio of which 41% were project subsidies, 20% membership fees and 30% bilateral income from companies. Sirris had 140 in house experts in 8 different sites in Belgium (2017).
Evidence of success
Sirris succeeds in helping many different companies from small to big. In 2015 it has executed 1972 different industrial projects and 216 collective research projects.1500 different companies were served of which 75% were SME. This SME-focus is a critical success factor. It has an open structure and companies have easy access.
Sirris is one of the main drivers for the Made Different initiative. Sofar 16 companies have achieved the Factory of the Future status!
Sirris is one of the main drivers for the Made Different initiative. Sofar 16 companies have achieved the Factory of the Future status!
Potential for learning or transfer
Sirris operates close to the market and fully responds to the needs of the companies. Thus the innovations developed with and by Sirris can be immediately implemented in new products and processes.
The combination of innovation support (knowledge) and testing and validation support (infrastructure) is a key to success as innovations can immediately be tested in real life conditions and companies can assess the readiness for their own situation.
The Made Different initiative, which has been supported by the Flemish Government, helps companies to become Factory of the Future and provides an incentive for the Flemish industry to improve and innovate. Sirris has technological knowledge (engineers) combined with infrastructure. This is however in itself not enough to attract companies (SMEs). Sirris generates visibility through events, workshops, masterclasses. Moreover Account Managers help to determine the needs of the industry and translate this to the Sirris offering.
The combination of innovation support (knowledge) and testing and validation support (infrastructure) is a key to success as innovations can immediately be tested in real life conditions and companies can assess the readiness for their own situation.
The Made Different initiative, which has been supported by the Flemish Government, helps companies to become Factory of the Future and provides an incentive for the Flemish industry to improve and innovate. Sirris has technological knowledge (engineers) combined with infrastructure. This is however in itself not enough to attract companies (SMEs). Sirris generates visibility through events, workshops, masterclasses. Moreover Account Managers help to determine the needs of the industry and translate this to the Sirris offering.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Flanders Make
Belgium
Prov. Limburg (BE)
Contact
Sr. Account Manager EU Affairs