LIGHTWEIGHT INNOVATION PROGRAMME PROJECT 5. Enhanced test & demonstration platforms for lightweight technology

Important results from the project

The project has provided valuable insights into current and future industrial needs for testbed activities and how existing resources can meet these demands. Increased integration or alternatively co-location of resources is regarded as necessary to meet demands for a systematic TRL 5-6 verification within the industry driven development projects that intend to bridge the gap between research and industrial implementation. An internatinoal testbed survey also pointed out the importance of strategic national investments to meet international competetion.

Expected long term effects

Conclusions from the prestudy will be discussed with the LIGHTer management to recommend continued activities to strengthen the mechanism ´testbed and demonstrator´ in accordance with the strategic agenda for lightweight. Expected outcome is a commonly available and integrated testbed for lightweight technology that can bridge the geographically distributed environment. The testbed will continuosly be devleoped to meet industrial demands in international competetion. LIGHTer will be the portal to qualified and rapid support with verification of production and products.

Approach and implementation

The project was coordinated with a parallell RISE project with financing from Vinnova. The coordination was very valuable for both projects and provided a deeper insight into current and future industrial needs. A close dialogue with industry was based on enquiries, interviews and also workshops with participants from the LIGHTer members. The industrial benefit from using a testbed was evaluated through a number of demonstration projects that provided valuable insights into how a testbed and the connected infrastructure should develop to further increease industrial benefit.