MNM - Manufacturing NextMaterials

Brief description

The Manufacturing Next Materials (MNM) project aims to equip small and medium-sized enterprises with the flexible manufacturing technologies needed to transform smart and sustainable materials into lightweight components for mobility, advanced battery systems and renewable energy solutions. Government support is available for small and medium-sized enterprises in the field of materials technology up to the prototype development stage. After that, however, they often find it difficult to ramp up production and reach the market.

As part of the project, innovative solutions are being developed in three pilot projects to support SMEs on their way from prototype development to market maturity. The aim is to provide 120 SMEs with the necessary skills to bridge the gap between prototype and market.

The work plan is divided into three work packages:

1. architecture development

2. service development

3. provision of services

The main obstacles for SMEs in the field of materials technology are setting up and running a test production, convincing potential customers and investors and dealing with regulations and standards in foreign markets. These challenges are specifically addressed through the cooperation of the core partners Oost NL, NMWP and NV BOM as well as the knowledge partners CATO Composites, the Application Center for Thermoplastic Composites of Saxion University, the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform of the University of Twente, the University of Münster, the Fraunhofer Institute for Battery Cell Production and the Rapid Technology Centre of the University of Duisburg-Essen.

The project will create long-term solutions by establishing facilities for cross-border cooperation in the test production of composite materials, the production of advanced batteries and support for 3D printing, as well as supporting SMEs to participate in workshops and training to prepare them for test production. The close collaboration between the partners ensures hands-on development and test production with potential customers and investors.

This approach enables the 120 SMEs to acquire the necessary skills to bridge the gap between prototype and market, which increases the companies' competitiveness in the long term and facilitates market access.