The Inn-Pressme project promotes cutting-edge pilot facilities dedicated to supporting the growth of market demand to expand bio-based material innovation.
The Inn-Pressme project has upgraded 16 pilot lines (PLS) across Europe, improving most industrial process parameters by at least 15%, and verifying 20% of material performance faster. These upgraded pilot lines were validated by demonstrating scale-up of test cases in the packaging, energy, transportation and consumer goods sectors. During product development, final processing parameters were defined and adjusted based on experience and feedback from the industry partners of the project. The most successful test cases were packaging, distributed coated fiber-based stand-up pouches, biofoam boxes, automotive bio-based plastic components, ultracapacitators, personalized inner shoe soles, and smart labels for sustainable end-of-life options. This work continued with open calls, and Open Innovation Testbed (OITB) procedures extended to a wide array of potential end users and markets, diversifying the project’s ecosystem and expanding the scope of innovative solutions offered. The new test cases selected not only tested the facility first, but also validated the operational procedures of the OITB work.
These pilots and other services are now available as tests before investment services used in appropriate customer-driven projects. Inn-Pressme Open Innovation Test Bed is an essential and transformative ecosystem specifically designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps to successfully develop and expand innovative bio-based and nano-enabled materials. In a global market, increasingly driven by sustainability and environmental responsibility, Inn-Pressme offers businesses a strategic advantage by significantly reducing the financial risks and barriers typically associated with the transition of new materials from laboratory to commercial production.
Streamlined Innovation: Inn-Pressme SEP and Digital Platform
The core of the Inn-Pressme Ecosystem is the Single Entry Point (SEP). It is a centralized, streamlined interface that promotes seamless access to the consortium’s cutting-edge pilot facilities and the extensive network of industry-leading technical experts. As SEP, our project partner, Stam (an Italian engineering company dedicated to technology transfer), has begun operating and promoting OITB’s pilot line. SEP simplifies complex innovation situations, allowing companies to quickly assess specific technical needs, efficiently match with the right partners and facilities, and receive customized support and guidance at every stage of their journey of innovation and scale-up.
Complementing the SEP is the Inn-Pressme digital platform, which acts as a repository of pilotline features, services offered, and key OITB assets and documents. Well beyond the application portal used for open calls during Inn-Pressme projects, the platform is accessible to all small and medium-sized businesses, intermediate caps, and research and technology organizations (RTOs) interested in investigating the development opportunities and specialized services offered by the Inn-Pressme network. It provides a comprehensive, user-friendly environment where stakeholders can access detailed information about pilotline features, review important documents, and effectively manage collaborative projects.
The pilot infrastructure within the Inn-Pressme consortium represents a comprehensive, integrated value chain, enabling businesses to explore and implement diverse, sophisticated materials and cutting-edge technologies.
Nanomaterials: These materials feature dimensions from 1 to 100 nanometers and offer exceptional functional properties that greatly improve the performance, durability and efficiency of the product. By leveraging nanotechnology through Inn-Pressme’s specialized pilot line, businesses can leverage innovative solutions from a variety of sectors, from packaging to automobiles and beyond. Bio-based materials: In response to the looming global demand for sustainable alternatives, Inn-Pressme promotes the development and industrial applications of materials derived from renewable biological sources. Companies accessing the Inn-Pressme facility will successfully transition from fossil-based to bio-based solutions, aligning their product portfolios with circular economy principles and environmental regulations. End Materials: OITB guarantees comprehensive support across the material value chain, from early research and development to final product verification and scaling. This holistic approach ensures that the developed final materials are market-ready, robust and validated under realistic industrial conditions.
Inn-Pressme’s pilot line plays a pivotal role by enabling scaling-up trials, which are essential to verify product performance under real conditions. These tests also generate reliable, high quality data to conduct detailed sustainability assessments, helping businesses to accurately quantify the environmental impact and benefits of solutions. This data-driven approach allows businesses to confidently place their products as environmentally responsible and commercially viable.
OITBs that are ready for clients
Through OITB, Inn-Pressme is designed to maintain its positive impact well beyond the timeline of your first project. Consortium Partners are committed to maintaining and continuing strengthening the OITB infrastructure. This long-term operational model ensures sustainable access to European companies’ pilot lines and technical expertise in European companies, promoting the adoption of innovation and the industry-wide adoption of sustainable practices.
Companies involved in inn-pressme benefit from:
•Unparalleled access to cutting-edge pilot facilities and specialized characterization techniques and services, including recyclability and biodegradability assessment, lifecycle assessment, and market analysis across Europe.
A well-defined risk-initiated pathway from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale verification through pilot testing. The assistance of experts in navigating the funding landscape by combining private investment and public financial support mechanisms. Entry into a vibrant community of key industrial and academic stakeholders committed to innovation and sustainability.
In today’s competitive market environment where sustainability is not only desirable but essential, inn presses exist as a pivotal catalyst for innovation and growth. Companies partnering with Inn-Pressme can dramatically accelerate their innovation processes, confidently expand their sustainable solutions, and actively contribute to global change towards a more environmentally friendly, more sustainable future.
The project received funding from grant agreement No. 952972 from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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