Cartif annual report 2016 by CARTIF

ANNUAL REPORT 2016

INDEX 07

WORDS FROM CARTIF CEO

GENERAL INFORMATION

15 17 19 21 23 25

What is CARTIF? Members of the Board CARTIF in figures CARTIF around the world Excellence Platforms and associations

PROJECTS

29 31 33

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS PUMAN SMARTROT

35 37 39

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT mySMARTLife LEACHLESS

41 43 45 47

CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE NUMASTA TRANSFORMING TRANSPORT INCEPTION

49 51 53

AGROFOOD SUSTRATEC FERTINOVO

55 57 59

HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE CYTOPREP METASIN

WORDS FROM CARTIF CEO

DR. JOSÉ RAMÓN PERÁN Last year 2016 has seen the results of the efforts that, in all aspects, have been increasing in previous years. The European Framework Program continues being the reference of our applied research activity. The predictability of its calls, the previous dissemination of its drafts and agendas, which clearly outlines the lines of research in each of its sections. These circumstances have allowed us to focus our lines of work, of training and of creation of new knowledge, to be prepared in the medium term.

However, the National Research System follows a trend of delays in the calls and in the deadlines for their resolution. The small and medium companies are which more are suffering the consequences of this way of acting. Instead of stimulating the necessary innovative boost, uncertainty causes discouragement in this important sector of the National Economy.

We want to be able to help companies in an effective way to look for solutions for their daily problems, those which usual technologies cannot solve It is necessary to note that these companies are not very likely to run the economic risks that in the short term, innovation implies, and neither those that require longer term applied research.

Happily, we should note that the Regional Innovation System has finally started. Slowly, but with a series of largescale actions: calls for assistance to R&D projects of small and medium-sized enterprises, encouragement of strategic plans for all types of enterprises, specific support for technology centres, and very broad actions of dissemination of breakthrough technologies, among others. In the case of CARTIF, these grants will be used in the training and preparation of our researchers for the future. We want to be able to help companies in an effective way to look for solutions for their daily problems, those which usual technologies cannot solve. In addition, we have the intention, since our creation, to make our enterprisers understand that dedicating resources to research in the improvement of products and processes is a necessary condition for success. For the first time since 2011, we can present positive results of some

consideration. The efficiency in the administration of the available resources and the correct policy to go to all the competitive calls, in which we had some possibility of success, have been very corrects, in the national fields and, especially, in the international field. We want point out the hard labour carried out in order to boost the companies of Castilla y León. We have neither neglected our presence in the rest of Spain and, timidly, outside. Finally, it is necessary to congratulate all those working in CARTIF, researchers, service personnel and teachers, who with their extraordinary success and dedication have achieved the results described in this report.

Dr. José Ramón Perán CARTIF CEO

GENERAL INFORMATION

WHAT IS CARTIF?

CARTIF IS TURN OPPORTUNITIES INTO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP BUSINESS CHALLENGES AN EFFICIENT AND PROACTIVE ATTITUDE COMMITTED TO DRIVING BUSINESS INNOVATION

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

TECHNOLOGY ADVISERS D. Fernando Aldana Ex-general Secretary of CYTED

Dr. José R. Perán CARTIF CEO

CARTIF IN FIGURES

174 149 89 7,4 Mâ&#x201A;¬

CLIENT COMPANIES

STAFF

PROJECTS

29%

36,1%

44 PHDS

WOMEN

MEN

AVERAGE AGE

6,7% 63%

WITH COMPANIES

MILLION EURO INCOME

63,9%

30,3%

INTERNATIONAL

GENERIC RESEARCH

SPIN OFFS

35,6% 64,4%

COMPETITIVE PUBLIC FUNDING

PRIVATE CONTRACTS

CARTIF works to support the spanish companies involvement in international programmes, committed driving to business innovation.

CARTIF AROUND THE WORLD

CARTIF INVOLVEMENT IN: 7 th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (2016) NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS: 7 NUMBER OF PROJECTS LED: 3 RETURN: 5,3 M€ H2020 PROGRAMME (2014-2016) NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS: 12 NUMBER OF PROJECTS LED: 3 RETURN: 5 M€ LIFE PROGRAMME (2014-2016) NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS: 13 NUMBER OF PROJECTS LED: 9 RETURN: 3,4 M€ OTHER EU PROGRAMMES (2014-2016) NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS: 10 RETURN: 0,4 M€ LATINAMERICAN PROJECTS (2014-2016) NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS: 10 NUMBER OF PROJECTS LED: 1 RETURN: 0,4 M€

EXCELLENCE

Our laboratories have accreditations to carry out trials in compound materials, paints, varnishes and pellets and non metalic materials testing AS 7003. In addition, the Centre has different certifications in quality, environmental management, research and development management and Ecodesign.

PLATFORMS AND ASSOCIATIONS

·· Mineral processing and extractive metallurgy for mining and recycling Innovation Association (PROMETIA) ·· Green Building Council (GBC) ·· European Energy Research Alliance (EERA AISBL) ·· European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA) ·· European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) ·· EU ROBOTICS Association (EU ROBOTICS) ·· International Solar Energy Society (ISES) ·· Sustainable Process Industry through Resource and Energy Efficiency (SPIRE) ·· Big Data Value Association (BDVA) ·· International Council of Large Electric Systems ·· EIP Agriculture (Focus Group, Protein Crops) ·· EIP Water (Action group: Industrial Water reuse and recycling) ·· EIP Raw materials (Commitment Metal Recovery from Low Grade Ores and Wastes) ·· EIP Smart Cities and Communities

PROJECTS About more than 80 projects carried out or put in place during 2016, we have chosen some of the most representative as a example of our work in the different research areas in which our teams develop their activity.

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS

If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that defines CARTIFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activity is our ability to provide end customers ready-to-use industrial solutions. The efficient manufacturing and the transition towards the Factory of the Future are at the core of our fundamental objectives. To achieve them, we rely on our research lines, continuously updated, and according the market needs. These research lines include the flexible manufacturing, intelligent and efficient manufacturing processes and collaborative robotics and advanced automation, among others. In addition to this research work, we also keep track of the needed profitability four our customers so they maintain their market position.

PUMAN

MANUAL ASSEMBLY FOR INTERACTIVE POSTS IN INDUSTRY

PUMAN project will allow the development of a new concept of smart system for manual assembly stations in the industry. This system has as its main mission to minimize assembly errors by operators by validating operations, providing information and guiding the operator in real time through intuitive man-machine interfaces based on Augmented Reality. In addition, the proposed system enables manual assembly processes to be integrated into the traceability system and reports and statistics on cycle times and productivity are generated. Finally,

the system seeks to facilitate the flexibility and multifunctionality of the workstations so it will include a system that allows the use of the same workstation for several functionalities according to the requirements of each moment. The project will develop a prototype that guides, validates, flexibilizes and provides security in the manual assemblies of the automotive sector. For it, CARTIF develops and validates the following systems in collaboration with the company PROINGESA: • Multi-piece reconfigurable fastening system. It is based on 3D dynamic display technologies and traditional pin tables used in the industry for laser cutting operations. It will allow the assembly station to adapt to different parts or that the parts can change their position so that the operations are as comfortable as possible. • System of detection and monitoring of tools and hands of the operator. It is

based on artificial vision with the use of the fixed cameras and the mobile camera in the Smart Glasses. • Work gloves for non-tool operation. It is based on sound detection technologies to allow validation of clipping operations that do not have a specific tool. • Augmented Reality Interface. It is for the guidance and presentation of immersive assembly steps information and informing about the safety risks of operators. It can also aid in learning and serves so that the operator is informed at all times of the operations that have to be performed or if there is an error in the assembly. • Guidance system, process validation and security control. The system that manages the whole process, establishing the steps to be followed, validating the actions carried out with tools or gloves, assessing the safety of the operator, keeping track of the tool and hands, and providing information on the production process.

SMARTROT

PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE IN IRON AND STEEL PROCESSES

SMARTROT project is working for ensuring the predictive detection of mistakes in rotatory inspection equipment of induced currents, as well as high maintenance of them, so that possible failures of the equipment can be anticipated and repaired before unforeseen stops occur for that reason, or that abnormal operating conditions can be detected that may be affecting the quality analysis itself. The main objective of this project is the design, development and validation of rotating inspection equipment that integrates a remote predictive maintenance system oriented to this specific application and that allows the automatic generation of error

messages through a cooperative learning based on multiple cases. The project is carried out in collaboration with ISEND Company, manufacturer of siderometric inspection systems and the only Spanish company that owns nondestructive testing technology (NDT) based on induced currents. For the integration in the machine of the appropriate sensor for the detection of the failures, CARTIF will carry out specific designs of the sensors and of the associated electronics for the capture of the signal. The objective is to obtain a system of capture of information of low cost that allows its massive implantation in a high number of machines without loss of benefits. The other area of development in which CARTIF will work is in the algorithms of diagnosis and prediction based on multiple cases, so that it can extract knowledge of past experience and similar machines to improve the diagnoses performed.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

We have 17 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in technologies, R&D projects and developments for the companies that concern to all the stakeholders in the Energy and Environment sector. We were pioneer in renewable energies and biofuels research in Spain and now, we have one of the most prepared research group in Energy all over Europe.

mySMARTLife

INCLUSIVE AND SMART CITIES mySMARTLife project aims at the development of an Urban Transformation Strategy to support cities in the definition of transition models, as a suitable path to reach high level of excellence in its development process, addressing the main city challenges and progressing to the smart people and smart economy concepts. The main instrument to achieve this very ambitious strategy will be the definition of the Advanced Urban Planning, consisting of an integrated approach of the planned city interventions on the basis of a rigorous impact assessment, an active citizen engagement in the decision-making process and a structured business approach, from the city business model perspective,

to the economic framework for big companies and local SMEs and StartUps. mySMARTLife is a project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme. Under the coordination of CARTIF Technology Centre, 28 partners from 7 countries are working with joint forces on making sustainable cities with smart people and smart economy a reality. Activities are taking place in the three demonstrator cities Nantes, Hamburg and Helsinki. The mySMARTLife project aims, as one main pillar, at reducing the CO2 emissions of cities, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and making the cities more environmentally friendly. But the project´s objectives go far beyond these aims. “Inclusive cities” is the new keyword, offering a high quality of life, where citizens are playing a vital role in the development of the city. This is what the project aims at with the concept of

“smart people”. At the same time, the mySMARTLife partners focus also on the “smart economy” approach – they want to realise an innovative and dynamic economic concept that guarantees employment and adequate income, attracts talents and provides goods and services according to the actual requirements. Apart from these non-technological actions, the activities planned and carried out in the three demonstrator cities include also a technological level in connection with refurbishments of buildings, usage of renewable energies, clean transport and supporting ICT solutions. An integrated planning process, where the citizens are actively involved in the decision making process, is linking the actions in different fields (e.g. mobility, sustainable energy). Following a structured city business model, this shall lead into an integrated urban transformation strategy, which can be easily transferred to other cities.

LEACHLESS

SEEDING SUSTAINABILITY, HARVESTING FUTURE

The LIFE LEACHLESS project will promote water resources management actions in accordance with the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC by enabling managers of landfills and waste treatment centres to achieve good qualitative and quantitative status of their effluents. Large amounts of leachates are generated in Europe and, because of

their composition, having a high pollution load. The LEACHLESS project proposes a treatment model that will be carried out â&#x20AC;&#x153;in-situâ&#x20AC;? using a costeffective novel technology that combines solar evaporation/ condensation plus forward osmosis. The prototype will be powered by renewable energies (solar energy, biomass and residual heat), which will minimise the carbon footprint of the process.The final effluent quality will be very high, allowing reuse (preferred) or discharge into watercourses. In the particular case of this project, the final effluents will be reused for cleaning and gardening purposes. A minority semi-solid residual stream will be also generated in the process. Due to its special composition (rich in metals and inorganic elements), this stream will be valorised in ceramic industries to improve the final products characteristics. The final results of this research work will be replicated in facilities of two European countries (Spain and Greece).

CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

To answer the needs of this competitive market, we have developed one specific research line based in Smart and Sustainable Construction with the aim to help our clients to get the transformation and sustainability of the construction industry through building integration of renewable energy systems, the implementation of digital home and new technologies for the building rehabilitation with one special mention for the cultural heritage. All of this is inside the global concept regeneration of the urban environments (Smart City) We also develop other research lines in infrastructure, logistic and transport through the application of Computer Intelligence techniques to the domain of transport infrastructures preservation, both roads and railways: knowledge extraction and intelligent modeling.

NUMASTA

NEW MATERIALS FOR THE WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT

This project is going to developing new advanced compound materials, which will allow improving the mechanic and thermal performance of the equipment currently used in the wastewater treatment sector. In addition, these compound materials would allow the development of more environmentally sustainable treatment equipment due to their longer durability, lower weight, lower use of raw materials and the incorporation of waste from the production processes in the formulation of the materials. NUMASTA project focuses the development of a new generation of glass fiber reinforced composites for their application in the wastewater

treatment sector. Shape requirements (including modularity for shipping and on-site assembling) and functional needs (structural strength and thermal isolation) are covered on demand by using sandwich panels. These panels are 3D engineered using configurable external skins and inner reinforcements. Compatible polyurethane (PU) foam core completes the composite. Apart from the innovative structural design, special attention will be focus in the manufacturing process. Currently, every PU foam core is prepared from a rigid PU panel and included between layers (glass fibers) during the flex-molding process (with special resins). The research team is working in designing a one-stage manufacturing process in which the polyurethane liquid components are included between layers and then the foaming process could take place together with the flex-molding process. For that, special additivation techniques and accurate reaction kinetics control will be the key points in the research.

TRANSFORMING TRANSPORT BIG DATA APPLIED IN THE MOBILITY AND LOGISTICS SECTOR Big Data will have a profound economic and societal impact in the mobility and logistics sector, which is one of the most-used industries in the world contributing to approximately 15% of GDP. Big Data is expected to lead to 500 billion USD in value worldwide in the form of time and fuel savings, and savings of 380 megatons CO2 in mobility and logistics. With freight transport activities projected to increase by 40% in 2030, transforming the current mobility and logistics processes to become significantly more efficient, will have a profound impact. A 10% efficiency improvement may lead to EU cost savings of 100 BEUR. Despite these promises, interestingly only 19% of EU mobility and logistics companies employ Big Data solutions as part of value creation and business processes.

The Transforming Transport project will demonstrate, in a realistic, measurable and replicable way, the transformations that Big Data will bring to the mobility and logistics market. To this end, Transforming Transport validates the technical and economic viability of Big Data to reshape transport processes and services to significantly increase operational efficiency, deliver improved customer experience, and foster new business models. Transforming Transport will address seven pilot domains of major importance for the mobility and logistics sector in Europe: Smart highways, sustainable vehicle fleets, proactive rail infrastructures, ports as intelligent logistics hubs, efficient air transport, multi-modal urban mobility, and dynamic supply chains The Transforming Transport consortium combines knowledge and solutions of major European ICT and Big Data technology providers, together with the competence and experience of key European industry players in the mobility and logistics domain.

INCEPTION

AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH FOR TIMEDYNAMIC 3D RECONSTRUCTION INCEPTION realises innovation in 3D modelling of cultural heritage through an inclusive approach for time-dynamic 3D reconstruction of artefacts, built and social environments. It enriches the European identity through understanding of how European cultural heritage continuously evolves over long periods of time. INCEPTION’s Inclusive approach comprises: time dynamics of 3D reconstruction (‘forever’); addresses scientists, engineers, authorities and citizens (‘for everybody’); and provides methods and tools applicable across Europe (‘from everywhere’).

Information, Global and Indoor Positioning Systems (GIS, GPS, IPS) both through hardware interfaces as well as software algorithms. INCEPTION methods and tools will result in 3D models that are easily accessible for all user groups and interoperable for use by different hardware and software. It develops an open-standard Semantic Web platform for Building Information Models for Cultural Heritage (HBIM) to be implemented in user-friendly Augmented Reality (VR and AR) operable on mobile devices.

INCEPTION collaborative research and demonstration involves all disciplines (both social and technical sciences), technologies and sectors essential for creation and use of 3D models of cultural heritage. SMEs are the thrust of INCEPTION consortium that will bring the INCEPTION solves the shortcomings of innovation into creative industries of state-of-the-art 3D reconstruction by design, manufacturing and ICT. The significantly enhancing the Consortium is fully supported by a functionalities, capabilities and costStakeholder Panel that represents an effectiveness of instruments and international organisation (UNESCO), deployment procedures for 3D laser survey, data acquisition and processing. It European and national public institutions, and NGOs in all fields of solves the accuracy and efficiency of 3D cultural heritage. capturing by integrating Geospatial

AGROFOOD

The concern of modern society about controlling their health through their diet, makes essential a thorough control of the manufacturing process of food, which guarantees maximum quality and safety. We work on offering solutions to the industry and the consumers, paying attention to their needs. To accomplish this, we optimize the manufacturing processes, develop new products, and do agrofood waste recovery, besides of undertaking physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analysis.

SUSTRATEC

TECHNOLOGICAL SUBSTRATES WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF TECNOSOILS

This project aims to develop technological substrates with characteristics of techno-technologies, offering as fundamental innovation its capacity for self-fertilization and for the capture of atmospheric pollutants. These tecnosoils will be obtained through the process of revaluation of sludge from sewage plants, thus constituting a source of organic matter that will be complemented with other raw materials such as carbonates, absorbent-structuring materials (sugar foams, ash, pruning residues) and additives (quicklime and sulphates). The use of tecnosoils to reduce air pollution is a natural solution to an artificial malady. In this sense, the

reduction of the waste volume of an industry by means of recovery technologies that convert them into the raw material of another industry or industrial process for the development of novel products, is an important means to enhance the sustainability of agroforestry systems (productive and natural). However, the complexity of finding the balance between the natural-sustainable and the artificialunsustainable makes the work proposed really innovative. In the agriculture and forestry field, the ownership of developed tecnosoils of possessing self-fertilizing capacity will be due to the induced activity of the microbiota contained in the technological substrate (by means of encapsulated bacteria) that will fix the atmospheric N in the form of NOx. The final objective of this project will be to put four types of tecnosoils in the market, with a novel, self-fertilizing, restorative and noxious substance (NOx present in the atmosphere).

FERTINOVO

FERTILIZERS WITH ENCAPSULATED MATERIALS

This project aims to develop intelligent fertilizers with novel encapsulation materials, from the valorization of by-products of the poultry industry. In order to favour the use of this kind of natural fertilizer by means of technologies that improve its functioning (better assimilation by the plant, resistance to washing, activation with different climatic or edaphic conditions), contributes to optimize resources in agroforestry systems and efficient use of the processes of agricultural production. In the specific case of FERTINOVO, the use of waste from the poultry industry as raw material for the production of fertilizers constitutes a natural solution

to an artificial malfunction, such as the generation of waste from the industry activity. However, the complexity of finding the balance between the natural-sustainable and the artificialunsustainable makes the work proposed in this project innovative. Laboratory-scale tests on the functionality of the encapsulant are being conducted to determine the parameters moisture, temperature, release of nutrients from the fertilizer, degradation of encapsulation and fertilizer activity in the soil. These tests are performed on solid devoid of plants. Simultaneously, the laboratory tests on the agronomic viability of the encapsulated fertilizers developed are carried out. These trials are being carried out in pots (with pine, hawthorn and sage species), as well as in the trays in the greenhouse (with the species esparceta, stevia, mint and basil), covering different physicochemical parameters in soil, water and foliar level.

HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE

We are committed with the futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest challenge: to improve peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality of life, particularly for the ageing phenomenon from different health perspectives, by developing and marketing highimpact life-transforming products and services.

CYTOPREP

NEW METHODOLOGY FOR PROCESSING SAMPLES IN CLINICAL ANALYSIS

CYTOPREP is an experimental development project that combines knowledge and techniques of a scientific and business nature. Its idea is to address an aspect of diagnosis, preparation of the sample, which is fundamental for the progress of clinical cytometry through the development of new products with improved properties and functionalities that will industrialize and commercialize the business part of the consortium, and which will be an important progress in the field of human diagnosis by flow cytometry.

Its main objective is to design and develop an innovative methodology for the processing of samples in multiparametric studies by flow cytometry in the clinical laboratory, allowing to include in the analysis new markers with clinical relevance, improving the scope and depth of the in vitro diagnosis by flow cytometry and contributing to a more accurate, precocious and personalized diagnosis increasing the options of treatment, cure and quality of life of the patient. CARTIF is involved in the design and development of a revolutionary reagent dispensing vial and a novel robotic system for the processing of CMF multiparametric analysis. The design will be in an open format, to facilitate the integration of peripheral equipment, as an automated warehouse for cytometry reagents, which is also an important novelty and will also be designed and developed within this objective.

METASIN

NEW MULTIFUNCTIONAL FOODS TO FIGHT METABOLIC SYNDROME

Metabolic Syndrome is a combination of metabolic and physiological disorders that include atherogenic dyslipidemia (increase of triglycerides and apoliprotein B, small particles of LDL cholesterol and decrease of HDL cholesterol), obesity (waist circumference), glucose intolerance, hypertension and a prothrombotic and proinflamatory state. The metabolic syndrome is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most important epidemic of the 21st century. The prevalence in the general society is 24% (in both men

and women), reaching 50% in the case of people with some vascular disease. The main objective of this project is the research and development of active ingredients, food and multifunctional food supplements and their possible combinations, for example, in food matrices, the correct transport of the ingredients in these matrices and the validation of their functionality in preclinical studies and clinical. The project evaluates the ability of these ingredients and foods to influence the pathologies and risk factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in order to improve the quality of life of this sector of the population in an integral way. Therefore, the products developed in Metasin represent a natural alternative to the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. CARTIF participates in the tasks of advising and developing the transport of active compounds in food matrices and preclinical validation studies.

published CARTIF Research Centre Boecillo Technology Park. Valladolid Â· Spain www.cartif.com

staff CARTIF Communication Department

design www.typopotamo.com

photography Inside pictures: CARTIF.