Final report on the cooperation and coordination with related PPPs

RockEU

Robotics Coordination Action for Europe

Grant Agreement Number: 611247 17.01.2013 – 16.07.2016

Instrument: Coordination and Support Action

Final report on the cooperation and coordination with

related PPPs, ETPs and other bodies

Jon Agirre Ibarbia

Deliverable D4.4.1

Lead contractor for this deliverable: TECNAILA

Due date of deliverable: July 16, 2016

Actual submission date: July 16, 2016

Dissemination level: PUBLIC

Revision: 1.1

Executive summary This Final Report summarises and assesses the activities carried out within RockEU to strengthen and enlarge cooperation and coordination with other Horizon 2020 structures and initiatives, to support the development of a European robotics community, and to avoid conflicts, overlap and redundancy between the different initiatives and programmes that promote research, development and innovation.

With the establishment of SPARC and the development of the SRA and the Multiannual Roadmap MAR, cooperation with other initiatives such as PPPs and ETPs, but also with national and regional initiatives for innovation and robotics, were considered of highly strategic importance for acceleration and diffusion of robotics.

It should be mentioned that, although by means of contacts and meetings with EC operated organisations (ETPs, PPPs) the speed of innovation diffusion accelerates and the potential for robotics (and the further development of euRobotics) has increased rapidly (from agriculture to mining, from the chemical industry to the textile and shoe industry), a few hindrances for follow-up measures have been experienced, mostly related to the limits of funding and limited capacity for organisation and management.

The connection with organisations beyond the EC-operations, such as national and regional robotics programmes, or innovation agencies, have amplified both the potential for further coordination and cooperation, but have demonstrated all the more the limits mentioned above.

Nevertheless are the effects of networking with EC-operated communities and beyond on the European level extremely useful, although implemented only in two to three years, and they are very likely responsible for the rapid development of professional service robotics in many applications. euRobotics has become one of the most active organisations to reach out for cooperation and coordination and to build a network of European robotics to the advantage of economy and society.

RockEU Deliverable D4.4.1 Page 2 of 20

Content 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4

2. EUROP ETP assessment and recognition ............................................................. 4 3. Participation at ETP and other PPPs meetings ...................................................... 4

4. Assessment ............................................................................................................ 7

5. Table of Meetings ................................................................................................... 8

6. Annexes ................................................................................................................ 13

6.1. EUROP ETP assessment ............................................................................. 13

6.2. ETP Recognition letter .................................................................................. 19


Chapter 1 Introduction

1. Introduction The main objective of Task 4.4 is to strengthen and enlarge cooperation and coordination with other Horizon 2020 structures and initiatives, to support the development of a European robotics community, and to avoid conflicts, overlap and redundancy between the different initiatives and programmes that promote research, development and innovation.

In 2013, at the end of FP7 and as a preparation for H2020, the main milestone was to raise the profile of euRobotics aisbl as an ETP and to develop different types of cooperation and coordination with other Horizon 2020 structures and initiatives.

During the following years, with the establishment of SPARC and the development of the SRA and the Multiannual Roadmap MAR, cooperation with other initiatives such as PPPs and ETPs, but also with national and regional initiatives for innovation and robotics, were considered of highly strategic importance for acceleration and diffusion of robotics.

The initiative to form a network of ETPs and PPPs came from both sides, from stakeholders as well as the EC. In any case – within 2 to 3 years, euRobotics has become one of the most active organisations to reach out for cooperation and coordination and build a network to the advantage of European robotics.

2. EUROP ETP assessment and recognition In 2013, the formally still existing EUROP European Technology Platform (ETP) was requested by the EC to participate in the ETP assessment in FP7 for a possible accreditation in H2020 in accordance with the European Technology Platforms 2020 Strategy.

In order to fulfil this request, the euRobotics BoD decided to create a TF (short-time working group) for preparing the EUROP ETP assessment in FP7. The proposed approach consisted of proposing that the strategy development (i.e., the ETP core activities as described in the European Technology Platforms 2020 DRAFT Strategy document) and the implementation of the PPP should be in one hand, i.e., under the euRobotics aisbl association. To fulfil the ETP role and carry out this strategic development, a specific Working Group was created inside the euRobotics aisbl. Following this approach of the Board, a document was prepared for EC assessment (see EUROP ETP assessment as Annex 1).

On July 2013 (see EC recognition letter as Annex 2), euRobotics was recognized by EC as “Robotics ETP”. Hence it was concluded that the general description of the vision, mission and core activities of ETPs in H2020 are aligned with the activities that euRobotics aisbl is already performing, but an interface to EC on ETP related requests was needed.

Inside the BoD, a WG, formally a committee (see article 9.3 of the statutes), was created as an interface between the EC and euRobotics. This WG is in charge of interacting with the EC or other ETPs regarding ETP matters, and in case of initiatives from the other side, this WG is to interact with the BoD and other euRobotics working groups such as Task Forces and Topic Groups, in case some input is required.

The "ETP on Robotics Committee" was coordinated by Jon Agirre Ibarbia, including Geoff Pegman as a member, including also both euRobotics Vice Presidents (Industry and Research).

3. Participation at ETP and other PPPs meetings To cooperate and coordinate with the new Horizon 2020 structures and initiatives avoiding conflicts, overlapping and redundancy between the different initiatives that promote research, development and innovation activities in general, and in particular to assure the cooperation and coordination with related PPPs, ETPs and other bodies, several persons took part in different meetings in representation of euRobotics as the recognised Robotics ETP:


Chapter 3 Participation at ETP and other PPPs meetings

• Organised by the EC, Jon Agirre Ibarbia attended the EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS STAKEHOLDER'S MEETING on 19 December 2013. The workshop was organised in two sessions based on "Breakout discussion" (small groups with a rapporteur to discuss during 15 min a particular topic; after that time the rapporteur goes to another group and another rapporteur came to the group to introduce their discussion and enrich it. This was done three times). This was followed by respective plenaries for wrap up. The most interesting result was the possibility of having working sessions between those “platforms” which could have some complementary interests, in order to identify research priorities with the aim of synchronising the Research Agendas.

• Invitation to Robotics ETP at the RO-cKETs workshop on 18th March 2014 attended by Jon Agirre Ibarbia. In the frame of RO-cKETs Roadmapping for cross-cutting Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) activities, several ETPs and representatives of the EC (DG ENTR, DG RTD, DG CONNECT) were invited. The workshop aimed at providing a first validation of the identified cross-cutting KETs activities from the point of view of the ETPs.

• In 2013, we had contacts with EFFRA (Factories of the Future Association) on the possibility of synchronising agendas in view of the Strategic Programme and Work Programme for 2016-2017.

• Organised by the EC, Jon Agirre Ibarbia attended the EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS WORKSHOP on 14 November 2014.on “The value of cross-platform collaboration” aiming at Cross-ETP collaborations to address societal challenges. As a result of the meeting several contacts with other ETPs interested in Robotics solutions were stablished. The resulting in subsequent meetings with representatives of European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) – topic: autonomous driving, European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS) – topic: intelligent robotics, European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP-SMR) – topic: Topic Group Mining, PPP FoF/ ETP Manufuture – topic: industrial manufacturing, Technology Research Platform for organic food and farming (TP Organics) – topic: robots in agriculture (precision farming) were coordinated by euRobotics secretariat aiming at Roadmaping activities coordination.

• In 2014, we had contacts with EFFRA (Factories of the Future Association) on the possibility of synchronising agendas in view of Strategic Programme and Work Programme for 2016-2017.

• In 2015, Jon Agirre had several contacts with EFFRA (Factories of the Future Association) on the possibility of synchronising agendas in view of Strategic Programme and Work Programme for next calls.

The Secretary-General of euRobotics had several meetings:

• Meetings with representatives from national robotics programmes (Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Eindhoven); Berlin: together with representatives from DG CONNECT A-2.

• Meetings with representatives of European regional bodies and their umbrella associations (8 regional representations in Brussels; ERRIN, CoR)

• Meetings with representatives from ETPs: European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC), European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration (EPoSS), European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP-SMR), Manufuture, Technology Research Platform for organic food and farming (TP Organics), and the European Forest Based Sector Technology Platform.

• Meetings with other PPPs: FoF, SPIRE, and PERASPERA.

• Meetings with representatives from national robotics programmes (Germany, France, Spain)


Chapter 3 Participation at ETP and other PPPs meetings

• Meetings with representatives of European regional bodies and their umbrella associations.

KUKA also interacted with related bodies during set up of PPP (lessons learned, ways to set up a PPP (Factories of the Future as role model), potential collaboration…)

And RuR assisted the liaison with, in particular, the Factory of the Future PPP seeking to minimise overlap and conflict.


Chapter 4 Assessment

4. Assessment Although this deliverable is to assess mainly the results from networking with other EC-defined structures, such as ETPs and PPPs, the positive effects are multiplied by networking with national, and regional entities, and with other European associations (especially in Brussels). Within the realm of SPARC and the membership of euRobotics, the effects are enhanced by activities on the SRA and the MAR, mainly by means of the Topic Groups, and numerous individuals in the robotics community.

Each ETP, and each PPP, has developed a community of research, business and industry which represents a European innovation “avant-garde”. Since robotics is a cross-cutting technology, the multitude of these avant-gardes allows a rapid diffusion of ideas into many sectors and activities.

One example is the TP Organics, an ETP working on organic farming. Triggered by a presentation of robotics at one of the ETP meetings, the secretariat of TP Organics decided to discuss the introduction of agricultural robots for precision farming – which either minimises the use of chemicals, or substitutes them completely by mechanical operations (such as pushing weeds into the ground). Several subsequent meetings with euRobotics were arranged.

It should be mentioned that, although by means of these contacts and meetings the speed of innovation diffusion accelerates and the potential for robotics (and the further development of euRobotics) has increased rapidly (from agriculture to mining, from the chemical industry to the textile and shoe industry), a few hindrances for follow-up measures have been experienced, such as:

• limited capacity of the euRobotics secretariat (and Board members) to organise concrete projects between technology organisations such as euRobotics and SPARC, and application-driven organisations (such as TP Organics);

• limited capacity of SPARC/euRobotics to extend the roadmapping process and include other organisations (euRobotics with up to 100 participants in the Topic Group meetings is already at the personal and organisational limits;

• limited EU funding available; the programmes of the PPPs are already oversubscribed by 10:1; additional projects between different technology organisations, or between technology and application-driven organisations (ETPs, PPPs, etc.), very often have no chance to get funded. Often the interest of the organisation is to keep the limited funding for its own roadmap rather than opening it up to others.

The connection with organisations beyond the EC-operations, such as national and regional robotics programmes, or innovation agencies, have amplified both the potential for further coordination and cooperation, but have demonstrated all the more the limits mentioned above.

Nevertheless are the effects of networking with EC-operated communities and beyond on the European level extremely useful, although implemented only in two to three years, and they are very likely responsible for the rapid development of professional service robotics in many applications.


Chapter 5 Table of Meetings

5. Table of Meetings Date Location Brief description Participants

(name, affiliation) Results of meeting

23.01.2013 Vienna (Austria) PPP Event Rainer Bischoff (KUKA) Promotion of robotics PPP

towards Austrian stakeholders

27.02.2013 Lauffen (Germany)

SCHUNK Expert Days Thilo Brodtmann Presentation and promotion of

euRobotics, PPP

2013-04-15 Saclay (France) GDR robotique Christophe Leroux (CEA)

Presentation of euRobotics aisbl and of the PPP to French robotics industry topic group. Implication of CEA in the elaboration of the PPP

2013-04-25 Eskilstuna (Sweden)

RobotDalen Innovation Challenge

Geoff Pegman (RUR) Dissemination of PPP goals

13-14.05.2013

Brussels (Belgium)

EFFRA IRAG and FoF AIAG Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA) Liaison with FoF (JAI’s costs

as in kind contribution)

21.05.2013 Kerpen (Germany) RoboNed Rainer Bischoff (KUKA) Promotion of the robotics PPP

2013-06-11 Brussels (Belgium)

Meeting with ETP ERTRAC Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Establishing communication

channel on common objectives

12.06.2013 La Défense (France)

ESSEC, les matins de l’innovation

Christophe Leroux Presentation of the robotics PPP. Implication of CEA in the elaboration of the PPP

25.06.2013 Berlin (Germany) RSS Conference Rainer Bischoff (KUKA) Promotion of PPP at RSS

27.06.2013 Hannover (Germany)

Workshop at Mechatronics Centre Hannover

Rainer Bischoff (KUKA) Promotion of PPP towards Conti, Lenze… (in kind contribution)

29.-30.08.2013 Oxford (UK) TAROS Rainer Bischoff (KUKA) Promotion of PPP at TAROS

(flight as in-kind contribution)

10.09.2013 Neuilly (France)

CREDD (Club de Recherche et d’Etudes du Développement Durable)

Christophe Leroux (CEA)

Presentation of the robotics PPP and of the effort undertaken on ELS issues in euRobotics and RockEU CA

01.-02.10.2013

Brussels (Belgium) EFFRA IRAG Rainer Bischoff (KUKA); Geoff

Pegman (RUR)

Collaboration with Factories of the Future PPP (flight as in kind contribution)

30.10.2013 Brussels (Belgium)

Role of regions in Supporting New Innovation

Geoff Pegman (RUR); Uwe Haass, José Pedro Cardeiro, Katarzyna Gorzewska (euRobotics aisbl); Herman Bruyninckx (KUL)

Discussions on coordination with regional activities



Date Location Brief description Participants (name, affiliation) Results of meeting

06.11.2013 Tokyo (Japan) Horizon 2020 WS at IROS

Rainer Bischoff (KUKA); Herman Bruyninckx (KUL)

Promotion of PPP, euRobotics aisbl and contributions to the roadmapping towards the academic community (in kind contribution); Presentation on International Cooperation within RockEU

2013-11-28 Madrid (Spain)

Presentation of SPARC and meeting with Spanish National Research Agency

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl)

Fostering awareness of coordination national/European; fostering membership

4.12.2013 Berlin (Germany)

Meetings with stakeholders Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl)

Meetings with OttoBock, the Ministry of Economic Affairs on cooperation in robotics and with the LNE Group consulting

16.-17.12.2013

Brussels (Belgium)

PPP Signature Event

Bernd Liepert, Rainer Bischoff (KUKA – Bernd Liepert as in kind contribution); Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA – in kind contribution)

Ramp up of the PPP (Bernd Liepert as in kind contribution) (Jon Agirre Ibarbia costs as in kind contribution)

19.12.2013 Brussels

(Belgium)

EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS STAKEHOLDER’S MEETING

Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA) Advise the EC on ETPs in H2020

07.-08.01.2014

Aachen (Germany)

Presentation at Aachen University Martin Riedel (KUKA) Promotion of European

Robotics at Aachen University

24.01.2014 Karlsruhe (Germany)

Presentation of PPP Robotics and euRobotics

Uwe Haass (euRobotics) Promotion of euRobotics and the PPP


Representing Robotics ETP at ROcKETs workshop

Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA)

Validation of RocKETs’ Roadmapping for cross-cutting Key Enabling Technologies’ (KETs) from the point of view of Robotics ETP (JAI’s costs partially covered by Ro-cKETs)

2014-03-19 Lyon (France) Presentation of PPP SPARC at InnoRobo

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Diffusion of information, especially to representatives from regions


Presentation of PPP at ERRIN (Robots and Regions)

Herman Bruyninckx (KUL), Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl)

Growing interest in representatives from regions

2014-06-11 Eindhoven (The Netherlands)

Presentation of SPARC at RoboNed

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Improved membership from the Netherlands




2014-06-17/27

Washington DC (USA)

ISO Standardisation meeting

Theo Jacobs, Conrad Hochberg (FhG IPA) ISO TC 184

2014-06-17 Berlin (Germany)

Taking part in Panel Discussion in workshop of German Ministry “Autonomik 4.0”

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Continuing relationship between German ministry and EC DG Connect


Presentation of SPARC at “Advanced Manufacturing Conference”

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl), Jon Agirre Ibarbia (Tecnalia)

Closer collaboration with PPP FoF


Meeting with Director Detlef Eckert of DG Employment

Herman Bruyninckx (KUL), Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl)

SPARC Robotics and Structural Funds


Presentation of SPARC at European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials, 6th Sherpa Meeting, DG Enterprise & Industry

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Robotics for Mining, creating a Topic Group


1st meeting of Startup Europe and new PPPs, invitation to euRobotics by EC DG CONNECT

Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA) Aligning PPP activities on Entrepreneurship support

2014-10-02 Rotterdam, (The Netherlands)

Meeting with Director Detlef Eckert of DG Employment

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Additional members to Topic Group


Meeting with Director Peter Stub-Jorgensen DG Employment

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) SPARC and Structural Funds


Representing Robotics ETP at European Technology Platforms’ Workshop

Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA) Several contacts with other ETPs interested in Robotics solutions were stablished

2014-11-25 St. Quentin (France)

Presentation of SPARC at “Robo-numerique, l’an 1”

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) New contacts (Regions and Robotics) and invitation for subsequent year




2014-11-26/29

Toulouse (France)

European Robotics Week, Cité de l’Espace

Rainer Bischoff (KUKA), David Bisset (iTechnic), Lavinia Cinca, Uwe Haass Philip Piatkiewicz (euRobotics aisbl)

Impact on future ERW, competitions, robotics and regions.

Meetings with PERASPERA space robotics CSA.


2nd meeting of Startup Europe and new PPPs, invitation to euRobotics by EC DG CONNECT

Jon Agirre Ibarbia (TECNALIA) Aligning PPP activities on Entrepreneurship support

2015-01-06 Paris (France)

Presentation of SPARC at National ICT Information Day




Meeting with ETP Organics Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl)

Establishing communication channel on common objectives, discussing proposal for a common future project, connecting with TG Agricultural Robots

2015-02-11/12

Berlin (Germany)

Presentation of PPP SPARC among other PPPs at Start-up Europe Meetings

Uwe Haass (euRobotics aisbl) Robotics as important opportunity for start-ups

2015-02-12 Berlin (Germany)

Meeting with ETP EPoSS Secretariat


Establishing communication channel on common objectives, discussing proposals for common future projects


Meeting with ETP Forest Based Sector


Establishing communication channel on common objectives, discussing proposal for a common project


DG Connect/DG Research cPPP Workshop

Philip Piatkiewicz

Joint meeting with the participation of the 9 associations representing the private side of the 9 cPPPs in Horizon 2020 and the corresponding lead services in the Commission.


Brussels Alsace representation

Reinhard Lafrenz Robotics in Healthcare

2016-03-16 Den Haag (Netherlands)

Taking part in panel discussion at the eSkills High-Level conference

Reinhard Lafrenz

Establishing communication channel on common objectives with different bodies, e.g. Digital Europe




2016-03-21 Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Markku Markkula (European Committee of the Regions)

Reinhard Lafrenz Establishing communication channel on common objectives

2016-05-31

Odense (Denmark)

Meeting with representatives of a first initiative for Robotics in Lithuania

Meeting with representatives of the Dutch RoboValley cluster

Reinhard Lafrenz

Establishing communication channel on common objectives, identification of joint activities

2016-06-01 Odense (Denmark)

Henrik Christensen (US national robotics coordinator)

Reinhard Lafrenz/ Bernd Liepert

International Cooperation Opportunities


Digital Innovation information-exchange workshop

Philip Piatkiewicz Information exchange and cooperation opportunities

2016-02-22 Munich (Germany)

Meeting with Danish Industry Delegation during AUTOMATICA fair

Reinhard Lafrenz


2016-07-07 Madrid (Spain)

Presentation on Workshop on Inspection and Maintenance Robotics

Reinhard Lafrenz Special session about European Robotics (together with Anne Bajart (EC))


Chapter 6 Annexes

6. Annexes

6.1. EUROP ETP assessment


Chapter 6 Annexes


Chapter 6 Annexes


Chapter 6 Annexes


Chapter 6 Annexes


Chapter 6 Annexes


Chapter 6 Annexes

6.2. ETP Recognition letter


Chapter 6 Annexes


Documents

Final report on the cooperation and coordination with related PPPs