Workshop for FP7 1st Call

SPRINGBOARD into FP7
CIVIL AERONAUTICS

16 January 2007

The workshop, organised jointly by AeroSME and the Industry Management Groups (ASD-IMG4) attracted 180 participants, the majority of which were SMEs. It presented first hand information on the six large collaborative research proposals to be submitted in the 1st Aeronautics call of the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) and provided a unique platform to involve potential SME partners.

The large Industries’ approach to EU funded research and the current status of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative were outlined; while an official of the European Commission set out the EC approach and the FP7 rules of participation.

In order to ensure maximum SME participation in the research proposals, interactivity and networking were stressed. In practise this meant that nearly 50 individual meetings were organised between the proposal coordinators and SMEs presenting their technical contribution as potential partners.

Mr Meyer, one of the coordinator of the MAAXIMUS proposal stated that “such a workshop is not only useful, but I would say necessary in order to meet skilled but often unknown enterprises. Of course we had plenty of contacts and we already initiated more detailed technical discussions with some SMEs that could add value within the MAAXIMUS project. For sure, some of these SMEs will integrate the consortium through a win-win relationship.”

The presentations delivered at the event are now available for download (see below).

FP7 started in January 2007 and will last until 2013. The annual Aeronautics budget will see an increase by about 60% as compared to the Aeronautics priority of the outgoing 6th Framework Programme (FP6).

The first call for proposals was published on the 22nd December 2006, with closing date on 3rd May 2007. All information is provided on the EC website http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm

The Commission will fund large collaborative research projects (similar to the IPs in FP6) and small collaborative research projects (similar to the former STREPs). And like in FP6, the Commission is strongly encouraging the participation of SMEs in these projects.

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FP7 1st Call: List of Project Proposals

Hereunder is the list of projects presented at the Brussels workshop.

Presentations from the plenary session	Download Presentation
Workings and objective of the event Paola Chiarini - AeroSME Project
Industry's approach to the 1st Call of FP7 Valérie Guenon - IMG4
Aeronautics and Air Transport in the 7th Framework Programme Remy Denos- European Commission
SMEs in EU Projects - Lessons learned from FP6 Bernhard Dziomba- DAC

 

	Acronym and Title	Download Abstract (as of Dec 2006)	Download Presentation
1	MAAXIMUS - More Affordable Aircraft Cycle (Airbus)
	Fast development and a right-first-time validation of a highly optimised new generation composite fuselage. MAAXIMUS will be split in a virtual structure platform focussing on a higher prediction accuracy, higher confidence and process performance of the simulation. The second platform is a physical demonstrator building on a full scale composite fuselage barrel applying new and smart materials, new design concepts, advanced manufacturing processes and structural and systems integration.
2	SCARLETT - Scalable and Reconfigurable Electronics Platforms and Tools (Thales)
	Develop a new generation of electronics platforms encompassing both the avionics and open world. SCARLETT will define, implement and validate a new electronics platform architecture with fault tolerant, robust and safe configuration and re-configuration capabilities. New component technologies including COTS will be investigated. Representative applications will be used to demonstrate the new properties.
3	COMNET - Network Centric Communications (Selex Communications)
	Define and validate an advanced and coherent aircraft communication system as part of a new global air transport communication network overcoming the existing fragmented communication network. The expected outcome is a validated aircraft integrated communications system for Air Traffic Management, airlines operations, security services and Cabin Crew Operations.
4	AERO-NDE - Structural Non-Destructive Evaluation (Rolls Royce)
	Drive the development of inspection technologies across a wide range of NDT technologies to provide industrial prototype inspection methods and systems that can meet the challenge of accurate, rapid and local inspection on complex parts in the new and used condition. In parallel a pan European Aero NDT technology platform will be created.
5	HIRF-EMC - Electro-Magnetic Compatibility Modelling (Alenia)
	Increase the confidence level on electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) design and testing for air vehicles, fixed wing and rotorcraft, system installation and airworthiness certification. A synthetic environment simulation framework is set up to evaluate in the early stages of the design, the impact of structural modifications, and installation of equipment and configuration changes relevant to EMC aspects.
6	DREAM – Validation of Radical Engine Architecture Systems (Rolls Royce)
	Engine technology integration and validation conducted on component and system level by using rig component and/or system demonstrators focussing on testing of alternative fuels, passive and active control of aerodynamics and vibrations, contra-rotating open rotors with variable pitch, innovative engine structures with added functionality and other novel turbo machinery.

 

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Individual Meetings with the Coordinators

15-minute person-to-person meetings will be arranged between proposal coordinators and individual SMEs, interested to participate in the above listed project proposals.

To be invited to a person-to-person meeting it is mandatory to complete and return the “SME Technology Offer” Form by the 5th January 2007. The concerned proposal coordinator will select the technologies most attractive to his project out of the returned Technology Offers. Selected SMEs will be informed in time about the outcome of this process.

Please note that the person-to-person meetings are organised for discussion only. Being invited to such a meeting cannot be considered as an invitation to become a partner in the respective consortium.

 Download the "SME Technology Offer" Form

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List of Technical Offers (TeOs)

Find a competent SME partner!

For the "Springboard into FP7" workshop many SMEs made technical offers (TeOs) to the coordinators of the Level 2 collaborative EU projects which were presented in that workshop. Almost all SMEs expressed interest to publish these TeOs, listed along the respective technical area, for the attention of all project coordinators searching for competent SME participants.

TeOs	Download
HIRF - Electro-magnetic compatibility (related to HIRF)
Electronics Platforms and Tools (related to SCARLETT)
Aircraft Life Cycle (related to MAAXIMUS)
Engine components & systems integration (related to DREAM)
Network Centric Communications (related to COMNET)
Engine related Non-destructive testing (related to NDTECH)