Why PROsumer.NET? Main activities and results of the project

Lutz Walter - Project Coordinator PROsumer.NET Final Conference – Brussels, 27-28 May 2013

The European Consumer Goods Research Initiative

European Consumer Goods Research Initiative Networking European Technology Platforms addressing Design-based Consumer Goods Industries and Related Research and Technology Fields

Duration: June 2011 – May 2013

Scheme: 7th Framework Programme Nanotechnologies, Materials & Production NMP

Project Partnership

Related European Technology Platforms

Where is the consumer in ?

A stronger focus on research and innovation policies for the consumer sectors (goods and services) is needed.

Why PROsumer.NET?

Household final consumption represents 56.5% of European Union GDP

Design-based consumer goods sectors represent 13.5% of EU industrial employment & over 20% of EU manufacturing companies

European Research and Innovation Policies are currently focused on: % Horizon 2020 budget

Excellence in Science (= basic research) 33%

High-tech investments in sectors addressing Societal Challenges (mainly infrastructure and investment goods) 43%

Enabling Technologies for industrial leadership (= investment goods) 24%

1. What is the (design-based) consumer goods industry and how important is it for Europe?

2. How innovative is this industry and does is need/use research and new technologies?

3. What are the main socio-economic, market and innovation trends affecting this industry?

4. What are the innovation trends and research/technology needs with the highest priority?

5. Have these diverse sectors anything in common and does it make sense to work together?

6. What are the things policy makers can do to support research, technology development and innovation in this industry?

Key Questions to Answer

The Design-based Consumer Good Industry

European Turnover > 400 bn € 6.5%*

Added value 120+ bn € 7.5%*

Directly Employed 4.2 million 13.5%*

Number of companies ~ 420,000 21.0%*

Textile Clothing Leather Footwear Jewellery Watches

Toys Sport goods Interior products and furniture Design packaging Spectacles

Kitchen, table and glassware Bags and accessories Consumer health products Sanitary products

Figures for 2011, source Eurostat, * percentage of total EU manufacturing industry

Innovation is vital in the European design-based consumer goods industries, because: Markets are fiercely competitive and market barriers are low Cost leadership is virtually impossible, the key is differentiation Demand changes are rapid, unpredictable and product life cycles are short Consumers constantly expect something new, unique and exciting Buying decisions are driven by desires and emotions, not by basic needs End markets (in Europe) are mostly mature, overall market growth is slow Human creativity, novel materials and new technologies offer an endless potential for

new products & product-services

Despite small average R&D spending & few patents, the design-based consumer goods industry is highly innovative, invests heavily in innovation and

takes a lot of risk.

Innovation?

2

Socio-economic trend

analysis

Research and technology state-of-the-art

Future scenarios

Joint research roadmap

Main Project Activities

1

Expert network development

Communication platform

4

Report on the common innovation challenges

Innovation action plan + policy recommendations

Exit strategy for continuation of activities after project end

Main Project Activities

3

Project clustering and joint results dissemination

Platform for the development of joint projects

Thank you for your attention

More information on

www.prosumernet.eu

www.linkedin.com/groups/PROSUMERNET-

European-Consumer-Goods-Research-5031970