The Challenges of Matcher Green Deal Edition
The second edition of MATCHER Open Innovation Program focused on 19 Challenges proposed by the 10 Emilia-Romagna corporate partners. These were grouped in 3 thematic clusters.
Cluster 1: GREEN MATERIALS
Sustainability of materials is one of the most relevant aspects to reduce the environmental impact of industrial production, particularly in the construction and packaging sectors. The research of innovative green materials (e.g. plastic free, from recycled materials, compostable materials, …) to replace those currently used is the key to success of this challenge cluster.
#1. Food packaging & accessories
Green innovative materials or services for sustainable food packaging (primary packaging) and catering accessories
#2. Logistic & retail packaging
Innovative and more sustainable solutions for logistic and retail packaging (secondary and tertiary packaging)
#3. Outdoor power equipment
Green innovative materials to produce machine components and accessories for outdoor power equipment
#4. Building flooring
Innovative and more sustainable materials or solutions for building floorings
#5. Waterproofing asphalt
Innovative sustainable materials for waterproofing of large areas of water infrastructures
Cluster 2: DIGITAL PROCESSES & SMART MONITORING
Knowing the environmental impact of the company and its activities is a crucial process for establishing a strategic business direction that is aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal. For this reason, this cluster encompasses those challenges that enable the digitisation and smart monitoring of business processes in order to optimise the resources used and reduce waste.
#6. IoT (industrial machineries)
IoT solutions (sensors) for monitoring of operating parameters of industrial machineries and components
#7. IoT (collective catering)
IoT solutions for digitalization and monitoring of collective catering processes
#8. Liquid analysis
Innovative sensors for the advanced analysis of pollutants in water and other liquids
#9. Carbon footprint auditing
Carbon footprint live auditing solutions (mainly hardware) for dairy barns
#10. BIM solutions
Building Information Modeling software (BIM) for standardization of industrial plant production processes
Cluster 3: GREENER PRODUCTION & TECHNOLOGIES
Some industrial sectors are reluctant to go green due to the lack of viable alternative solutions to replace historically used technologies or production processes. In this cluster, the challenges presented seek innovative production methodologies or technological solutions that allow companies to undertake concrete changes, bringing direct or indirect benefits in terms of the environmental sustainability of their business.
#11. Predictive maintenance
Innovative predictive maintenance solutions and methodologies for industrial machineries and components
#12. Tech and process innovations for waterproofing sloped surfaces
Innovative laying techniques for the deposition of materials on large sloped surfaces of dams and reservoirs
#13. Autonomous navigation systems
Autonomous navigation systems for outdoor (grass-cutting machines) and indoor (floor-cleaning machines) power equipment
#14. Coating technologies
New and more sustainable surface coating technologies for oleodynamic applications
#15. 3D printing technologies
3D printing solutions for production of industrial plant components
#16. Physical scanning technologies
Innovative physical scanning technologies to increase quality of industrial measurements
#17. Agro-energy technologies
Innovative agro-energy technologies and methodologies to improve the combined agricultural and energy production
#18. Very high pressure resistant materials
Innovative materials for hydraulic components that can withstand very high pressure (800 bar)
#19. Hydrogen / oxygen based solutions
Innovative solutions for production or storing of hydrogen and/or oxygen gas
