Final PROsumer.NET results overview
- 1. 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
- 2. 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
- 3. 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%
- 4. 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
- 5. 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 productsSanitary products Figures for 2011, source Eurostat, * percentage of total EU manufacturing industry
- 6. 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?
- 7. 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
- 8. 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
- 9. Thank you for your attention More information on www.prosumernet.eu www.linkedin.com/groups/PROSUMERNET- European-Consumer-Goods-Research-5031970