To reach the ambitious goal of a decarbonized and efficient circular economy, lightweight construction was identified to play a key role. Thereby, the application of advanced lightweight materials such as polymer-based composites, ceramic matrix composites and light metal alloys has already enabled significant weight reductions while increasing performance over the past decades. However, the application potential of advanced lightweight materials that has been achieved scientifically and technically has not yet been fully exploited by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Advanced Materials & manufacturing United for LightwEighT (AMULET) project is a HORIZON 2020 project that aims to exploit the innovation potential of SMEs through a cross-sectoral, funded knowledge exchange. The goal of AMULET is to create new value chains by fostering the penetration of advanced lightweight materials in different fields through cross-regional and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange in four sectors: automotive, aerospace and aeronautics, energy, and building.
R&D demonstration projects targeting current sectorial challenges will be developed to reach TRL7, following a competitive-based approach. SMEs participating in the project will receive technical training support and business-to-business coaching for accelerating the commercialisation of their innovative solutions.
AMULET will focus on the following three advanced materials:
Light metal
alloys
Ceramic matrix
composites
Polymer-based
composites
And their implementation in four industry sectors:
Building
Aerospace
&Aeronautics
Energy
Automotive
AMULET’S CONCEPTION
In order to consolidate new lightweight industrial value chains in the automotive, aerospace & aeronautics, energy, and building sectors, AMULET will identify current sectoral challenges per type of advanced material.Three types of activities will be implemented to foster innovation in SMEs.
ACTIVITIES
THEMATIC CHALLENGE COMPETITIONS
TECHNICAL TRAINING
SUPPORT
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS COACHING
Activity 1: R&D demonstration projects
AMULET aims at developing R&D demonstration projects addressing current key sectoral challenges at EU level of three types of lightweight materials (polymer-based composites, ceramic matrix composites, and light metal alloys) for four industrial markets: automotive, aerospace & aeronautics, energy, and building.
Activity 2: Technical training support
Individual coaching to winning SMEs from Activity 1 to develop their demonstration projects plus educational programmes delivered to a wide audience through dedicated webinars and online courses.
Activity 3: Business-to-business coaching
Dedicated support from business experts to ensure that R&D demonstration projects can successfully reach the market. Additional support to educational programmes by including business-related topics in all online courses.
