Conclusions of the Workshop on Mechanics and Mechatronics

The workshop was moderated by Mr. Halada (EUREKA Secretariat). 43 experts from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine actively participated.

Mr. Pinte, AGORIA (Belgian Industrial Association) opened the morning session by introducing AGORIA´s mission and its concrete policy and support in the area of mechanics and mechatronics. A key presentation by Prof. Valášek (Czech Technical University, Prague) focused on the activities of R&D centres in mechanics and mechatronics in the Czech Republic and industrial applications. Prof. Ostaseviciuse (Technical University in Kaunas, Lithuania) talked about the realisation of research and intelligent materials and their usage in mechatronics. In the second part of the session, presentations were made by representatives of research institutions and universities from all participating countries. Speakers introduced project suggestions, including some which are seeking industrial organisations in Belgium as partners to target R&D applications and concrete commercial use. Twelve R&D organisations and universities presented 23 projects. Most proposals demonstrated a high level of expertise and interesting suggestions in terms of future commercial applications in the field of mechanics and mechatronics.

Mr. Van Belle, advisor to AGORIA, opened the afternoon session and presented the current situation and future trends in the development of mechanics and mechatronics and European cooperation in this field. He mentioned three European projects that competed for funding in the EU FP6. These projects were not approved because of this FP right adjusting (needs more explanation). The FP6 does not correspond entirely to the concrete needs of European industry and raising its competitiveness. The EUREKA Initiative was presented by Czech NPC Mr. Martinec and Belgian NPC Mr. Verbruggen. They mentioned the complementarily and relations between EUREKA and the EU FP, the strategy of ERA and EUREKA´s important role in supporting innovation and industrial competitiveness.

The results of the workshop were presented by Mr. Pinte and Mr. Halada. Mr. Pinte thanked all participants for their active participation and the AIE CR for their preparation and organisation of the workshop. The supporting role of the EUREKA Secretariat in Brussels was mentioned. AGORIA will inform its members about the project proposals presented and the results of the workshop. AGORIA will begin follow up in early 2004 and some projects which were presented in the workshop will be discussed with Belgian organisations in more detail. Mr. Halada explained that one of aims of the EUREKA Initiative is to motivate industry and other actors in the R&D field to collaborate and generate projects with a strong commercial output and to assist projects participants in obtaining co-financing by both public and private entities. This role of EUREKA was illustrated by the workshop.