Sign Up 
STRATEGIC COMMUNITIES
AFIL Strategic Communities
The Strategic Communities (SC) of AFIL are specialized working groups formed by members who share a common interest and dedication to strategic matters in Lombardy's manufacturing sector. These groups thrive on the participants' diverse expertise and interests.
Comprising key regional stakeholders, the SCs focus on recognizing challenges, requirements, and prospects in advanced manufacturing. Their primary objectives are to foster collaborations, establish synergies, and devise projects and solutions that promote industrial ecosystem growth and enhance overall competitiveness.
Submit
ABOUT
What About
Advanced Polymers?
Europe accounts for approximately 16% of global plastic production, and within Europe, Lombardy stands as a prominent hub for polymer and composite production and processing. Additionally, it leads in the manufacture of machinery and accessories used in plastic product processing. Key sectors benefiting from this expertise are automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, and construction. Notably, Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing present a significant technological challenge in the region, focusing on developing polymer-based materials and products with enhanced functionality, integration into intelligent platforms, and a circular life cycle approach.
To address these challenges and enhance regional competitiveness, the Strategic Community “Advanced Polymers” has been established. This community seeks to foster cross-sectoral and interregional networking actions while supporting Research and Innovation actions through collaborative partnerships for funding opportunities at regional, national, and European levels.
Within this Strategic Community, the Advanced Polymer Supply Chain proposal has been introduced, focusing on the following areas:
- Development of sustainable, functionalized, and/or intelligent polymers for actuation and sensing
- Advancement of innovative processes and technologies to enhance automation, flexibility, digitalization, process monitoring, and product traceability.
- Implementation of end-of-life processes and technologies, including sorting, testing and certification, ecodesign, traceability, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
- Dissemination and training activities to disseminate knowledge and expertise.
As a significant milestone, the project "Sustainable and Intelligent Supply Chain of Advanced Polymers" was approved on 22nd February 2023.