Description:
Currently, the European thermoplastic composite infrastructure is fragmented in nature. The main aims of the network are to:
- Improve the exchange of information between partners, and
- Increase the co-ordination of access to the network's infrastructure.
- Provide a mechanism for increased education and training within the industry.
The partnership represents a cross-section of complementary infrastructures and users, which span 9 European member countries. The intended outcome is a coherent framework for research infrastructures used for thermoplastic composites, which maximizes infrastructure use and coordination.
The achievements of the network in the first year of the programme against the objectives and planned activities are:
Under Task 1: Technical Cooperation
- 2 Technical focus meetings have been held on schedule in Ireland and Greece.
Under Task 2: Research Cooperation
- An infrastructure inventory analysis of the collaborating partners has been completed
- 14 working visits have been reported ahead of the scheduled 8 visits for the first year.
Under Task 3: Coordination of Future Research
- No planned activities were scheduled for the first year of the project
- A foresight workshop has been organised for December 2002.
Under Task 4: Communication & Dissemination
- 1 regional seminar has been held in Greece and a second planned for March 2003 in Germany
- Planning is underway to meet the conference deliverable scheduled for 2003
- A website has been created and launched, which serves as a portal for thermoplastic composites and a project management tool
- Website address:
http://www.coronet.eu.com Under Task 5: Project Management
- A section of the website has been created for project management
- The 2 planned project management meetings have been held in Ireland and Greece on schedule
- The first year costs are within the allocated budget.
