EuroNanoForum 2017 event concluded on 23rd of June in Valletta, Malta after three successful conference and exhibition days that attracted participants from over 40 countries and brought nanotechnology and open innovations in focus to strengthen the competitiveness of European manufacturing industries. In addition to being a co-organiser of the event, Spinverse took an active participant role as well, with Managing Director Laura Koponen, headlining a plenary session on "nanotechnologies for industrial success".
Event was open by Peter Dröll, Director, Industrial Technologies at DG Research & Innovation, European Commission, paving way for Chris Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business of Malta, who emphasised the role of open innovation in enabling sustainable economic growth for the European industry.
Terms ranging from “re-industrialisation” and “smart growth” to "governance of innovation" were explored in the context of the European competitiveness within the agenda of the event, filled with 3 plenaries, 15 parallel sessions, and more than 50 exhibitors. Prominent speakers representing business, government and academia, discussed nanotechnology and materials innovations, and the way they affect our everyday life.
Today, nanotechnology has become a synonymous for innovation and scientific breakthrough. It helps us push the boundaries of what is achievable, whether it’s advances in the treatment of epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, 3D printing, or making it possible to get every last drop of shampoo from the bottle. Berthold Hellenthal, Head of semiconductor programme at Audi AG demonstrated how automotive electronics and semiconductors reinvent the mobility of tomorrow, while nanotechnology addresses automotive megatrends in performance, energy efficiency as well as in reliability and robustness. Just imagine your car would be available 24/7 wherever you need it, could repair itself and change colour on demand!
EuroNanoForum 2017 has been conceived as a forum where the latest technology developments are put in context within their multiple industrial applications and where the industrialists delivering nano-enhanced solutions bring forth their breakthroughs – as well as the challenges they face. This rich narrative of latest achievements, industrial possibilities and challenges provides the background for the European policy makers at the event to address the actions planned for the future of nanotechnologies in Europe and also to take note of the suggestions coming from the grassroots.
Following similar principles of integrated collaboration and value co-creation, EuroNanoForum 2017 attracted diverse pool of companies of various sizes, industries and technologies. In addition to Audi, major industry players like: BASF, Haldor Topsøe, UPM, KONE, STMicroelectronics, Umicore, Infineon Technologies and alike, participated and contributed to the event alongside innovative SMEs Canatu, MetGen, Postnova Analytics, SmartMembranes, Thought3d and Avantium. Despite the apparent differences, all of those strive for the shared goal of supporting the European competitiveness.
About EuroNanoForum 2017
The EuroNanoForum biannual conference series has grown since 2003 into the most significant European forum offering opportunities for discussions among scientists, industrialists and policy makers, focusing on the use of research results in the various nanotechnology fields and associated industrial sectors. This time EuroNanoForum 2017 was held in June 2017, in Valletta, Malta under the auspices of the Maltese presidency of the European Union. The conference was organised by the Malta Enterprise and Spinverse in cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Read more at www.euronanoforum2017.eu
p.s. In his presentation Berthold Hellenthal of Audi featured a YouTube video of T-Rex getting his life back by discovering Audi piloted driving. We, at Spinverse, thought we'd share it with you to give you an idea how much fun EuroNanoForum 2017 really was!