PLASTIVAL

RTD-based Cluster iniciative to target future challenges of the Valencia plastic processing industry

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The plastic processing industry faces many challenges, although the use of plastics grows with new opportunities and applications To take advantage, SMEs have to innovate and diversify their business offer. Clusters assist this process by joining technical centres to monitor technological development, and suppliers of equipment and materials to improve competitiveness. The plastic processing industry in the Valencian Region supplies to a large number of industries such as the toy, footwear and textile sectors who face the same issues; fierce competition forces these industries to invest heavily to develop new and innovative products and processes, compete on an international level and with more high-tech companies. The creation of a research driven cluster would enable dialogue between different actors, transfer good practice and common strategy development. Besides, the plastic processing industry requires little initial capital, is labour-intensive and is not tied to a particular location unlike the plastic production industry. It is an industry to develop and stabilise economies and create local jobs. The Valencia regional government has announced full support and willingness to coordinate the creation of the cluster. The objective of the project is to unite the main regional actors of the plastic processing industry to develop specific actions which will drive to the creation of a RTD-based cluster, to target and face the future challenges of the Valencian plastic processing industry. Specific objectives are: - To elaborate a regional RTD roadmap for the years 2008-2012 - To identify potential specific RTD projects, taking into account environmental aspects related to the reduction of CO2 emissions - To create the operational framework for the cluster - To guarantee its financial sustainability This will provide the starting point for a sustainable collaboration between the different actors of the plastic processing industry in the Valencian Region.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A research and technology-driven (RTD) cluster for the plastics sector and processing industries has been created in Spain's Valencia region. Clusters can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to innovate and become more competitive.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The plastic processing industry in Valencia supplies a large number of industrial sectors covering products like toys, footwear and textiles. All these industries face similar challenges, such as fierce competition, requiring them to develop new and innovative products and processes.

Unlike the plastic production industry, plastic processing requires little initial capital, is labour intensive and it is not tied to a particular location. The 'RTD-based cluster initiative to target future challenges of the Valencia plastic processing industry' (PLASTIVAL) project, funded by the EU, set out to unite the main regional actors to develop specific joint actions.

In the first phase of PLASTIVAL, information about the plastics sector was gathered, then technical reports were issued and, finally, a RTD roadmap for future actions was drawn up. With the roadmap as the starting point for the cluster, the project's second phase focused on the dissemination and promotion of the cluster structure.

To complete the cluster set-up process, the project team studied the best practices gathered from experienced European plastics clusters. The researchers learnt how to create an RTD plastics cluster and manage it on a daily basis.

The PLASTIVAL cluster for the plastic processing industry is now firmly established in Valencia. The project website will be managed by the new cluster and will continue as a tool to promote relevant activities, news, information and services available for the Valencian plastics industry.