Research Connections Polymer

1
Research Connections Polymer Plastics
SectorWilliam MorrisKnowledge Transfer
Partnership Adviser

• Athlone, 22 April 2009

2
Key aims of meeting

• Academics to get better insight into research
  needs of industry
• Industry to gain better understanding of research
  capability across Ireland
• Act as forum to generate initial ideas to
  increase research collaboration and knowledge
  transfer for benefit of companies and academics
• Others?

3
Polymer and Plastics Industry in Ireland

• 283 companies
• 3,000 million turnover (2003/4)
• 18,750 employees
• Is 5.4 of all manufacturing employment

from Competitive Analysis of the Polymer and
Plastics Industry on the Island of Ireland,
Intertrade Ireland, June 2006
4
Demand for Plastic Materials
from Competitive Analysis of the Polymer and
Plastics Industry on the Island of Ireland,
Intertrade Ireland, June 2006
5
Sector Size and RD staff
from Competitive Analysis of the Polymer and
Plastics Industry on the Island of Ireland,
Intertrade Ireland, June 2006
6
Example Northern Austria

• Same size as Northern Ireland
• Has 400 plastics companies (all Ireland 300)
• One company turning over 120m in rubber stamps!
• Major international company has just moved their
  RD centre there because of integrated academic
  research, excellent training and other support
• Fully utilising FP7 support

7
Industry OverviewNorthern IrelandBrian
McCannIrelandKenny OBrien
8
Research OverviewAthlone Institute of
TechnologyQueens University BelfastUniversity
College DublinUniversity of LimerickTrinity
College DublinWaterford Institute of
TechnologyUniversity of UlsterSligo Institute
of Technology
9
Key aims of meeting

• Academics to get better insight into research
  needs of industry
• Industry to gain better understanding of research
  capability across Ireland
• Generate initial ideas to increase research
  collaboration and knowledge transfer for benefit
  of companies and academics

10
Process Knowhow
Cost, Performance Quality
Manufacturing Simulation
Plant and trained staff
Environment, Recycling etc
CAD Design
Polymer Companies
Customer Needs
Polymer Researchers
Nanotechnology Biotechnology
Market access
Intelligent Supplier
Finance driven
Knowledge driven
Unvoiced Needs
Academics
Companies
Customers
11
Crucial Issues for Polymer Industry

• Increase diversification of customers
• Invest regularly in new plant / processes to
  reduce costs
• Differentiate products by design or materials
• Exploit high value-added markets
• Increase international focus outsource low
  cost, high volume work
• Fully utilise on-island process and materials
  science
• Consider skills needs for well trained workforce
  in future
• Companies to take longer term planning view
• Environmental issues and energy costs growing in
  importance
• from Competitive Analysis of the Polymer and
  Plastics Industry on the Island of Ireland,
  Intertrade Ireland

12
Way Ahead

• Academics
• What could companies / other academics do to help
  your performance?
• Are new mechanisms are needed to make these
  happen?
• What would the barriers be / how to overcome?
• Companies
• What could academics / other companies do to
  improve your performance?
• Are new mechanisms needed to make these happen?
• What would the barriers be / how to overcome
• Actions
• Who must do what to get it started by when?

13
Existing knowledge transfer links

• Academic and commercial Conferences
• Fusion, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
• Knowledge Transfer Networks
• Northern Ireland Polymer Association
• Plastics Ireland
• All-Ireland Polymer and Plastics Networks
• FP7 collaborations - 2 countries of 3 here
• Informal / chance meetings