04/11/2009
Interviews
Manufuture ‘good for Italian industry’
Professor Alessandro Sciolari is the Scientific Director of Assoknowledge, the Italian Association representing industrial enterprises operating in the fields of education and knowledge, as well as the human resources and R&D departments of businesses operating in other industrial sectors. The organisation is part of Confindustria, the country’s largest business Confederation.
Prof. Sciolari, when and why did you decide to link Assoknowledge to Manufuture?
AS: Late in 2005, I became interested in the programmes that were then being drafted for Manufuture – especially with regard to the vision of a new manufacturing model identifying added value, rather than cost-cutting alone, as the way ahead. They resonated with Italian thinking that value addition represents the best option for the EU to remain competitive in the global economy. Our members tend to capitalise on national strengths in branding, design and style as the means to bolster their market positions, so they were attracted by a concept whereby knowledge-based manufacturing could differentiate Europe from regions that depend on low-wage production.
How has the relationship developed since that time?
AS: On behalf of my Association members I was very keen to be part of the organisation, so became an active participant in its various meetings and conferences. It was evident from the start that the Commission was highly responsive to the needs of Italian industry. In particular, I appreciate the support it has since provided to the ‘European Concept’ working group we set up to examine how innovation in manufactured products themselves might combine with advances in production processes to boost competitiveness.
A key aspect of the group’s deliberations was the desirability of integrating the products with appropriate value-adding technological services, which is also an underlying principle of the Manufuture philosophy. This approach is incorporated into a road-map proposal that will be presented to the EU-wide Platform partners at the end of July.
What does the future hold for Assoknowledge under the Manufuture umbrella?
AS: We hope to continue with our focus on product-related innovation. If our road-map is accepted, it will provide a launching pad for us to encourage greater involvement of Italian industry in Manufuture. The initiative has already built up a community of researchers aligned solidly behind its aims. My goal is to promote an equal commitment from the industrial enterprises that form our membership.
Herbert von Bose, who is the Industrial Technologies Director at the Commission’s DG Research, will visit us shortly to meet with senior representatives of the country’s manufacturing sector. I am confident that the personal contacts established at this time will encourage our industrialists to enter into EU projects with confidence and enthusiasm. We currently have an excellent vehicle in FP7; I want our enterprises to share in the effort, and to reap the rewards that can come from working together as a unified Community for industrial excellence. As Mr von Bose emphasised at last year’s Manufuture conference in Portugal, the ground has been prepared – now is the time for IMPLEMENTATION. Our future depends upon it.
