SIMULATION CLINIC

Conference on Technology Transfer and Technology ClinicsHelsinki 8th May 2003

Coordination of the Simulation Clinic

Matti Leivo, Project ManagerFederation of Finnish Metal, Engineering and

Electrotechnical Industries, METwww.met.fi

SIMULATION CLINIC

The mission of the Federation of FinnishMetal, Engineering and Electrotechnical Industries - MET

is to ensure that the finnishmetals, engineering and electrotechnics industry has

the prerequisites for success in global competition.

Through its actions, MET promotes innovative and internationally competitive operating environments among others

by encouraging and activating business development and networking.

Coordination of a technology clinic is one natural way to activate development work.

Paksuus

Source: VTT, Delfoi Oy

SIMULATION CLINIC

Simulation Technology

Simulation means representation of selected properties of a physical or an abstract system by a model. The model of the target system is used

to research the behaviour of the target system.

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Motivation for Simulation

Simulation is used to try out different options and to produce data for decision making. Typical situations are for example:

• the real system does not yet exist• the experiments would involve high economical risks• the experiments would be dangerous• the experiments cannot be controlled or carried out• the dynamics and response of the system is too slow

Economic Impact of Simulation

Simulation technology offers to companies great potential for:• improving products• perfecting processes• reducing design-to-manufacturing cycle time• reducing the cost of moving product from concept to delivery

SIMULATION CLINIC

2002 2003 2004

Chronology of events

(Feasibility study report)

Tekes’s call for offers

MET’s offer

Contract Tekes/MET

Start-up seminar

Preparatory work- business concept for the clinic- brochure, www, articles- seminar

Analysis of service providers andcommitment to the clinic

Marketing of the clinic (MET, Tekes, Service providers)

Start-up of the SME enterprise projects

Marketing seminar

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The Role of the Coordinator is to bea Neutral Intermediary and an Operative Administrator

Technological ServiceProvider• markets• diagnoses problem, expertise• helps in applying• acts as a development resource

SME• development needs• lack of awareness of new technologies• lack of resources and ability to test whether these new technologies could be of use to them

Public promotorof R&D• markets• makes funding decisions

Clinic Coordinator • markets• guides potential customers• guides service providers• organises proceedings• manages applications and agreements• manages of compensation payments• reports progress to Tekes

SIMULATION CLINIC

Simulation Clinic offers

• Services of simulation experts• Comfortable way to exploit service providers

Simulation Clinic serves

• SME enterprises of manufacturing industry (single consignments)

Typical Clinic project

• Period of project 1 … 6 months• Overall cost of service provider 2 000 … 20 000 EUR• From which financial support of Tekes is max 50 %

SIMULATION CLINIC

Contact with clinicContact with clinic

Familiarisation with proposalFamiliarisation with proposal

Possible suggestions to service providersPossible suggestions to service providers

Composition of project plan(Actions, Timetable, Cost)

Composition of project plan(Actions, Timetable, Cost)

Tekes approval for financial supportTekes approval for financial support

Signing of agreementSigning of agreement

Development work and reportDevelopment work and report

Company pays to service provider, Clinic pays financial support to company

Company pays to service provider, Clinic pays financial support to company

CoordinatorFederation of finnish metal, engineering and electrotecnical industriesP.O.Box 40 (Kehräsaari)FIN-33201 TampereMatti LeivoTel. +358 3 213 7716Mobile +358 40 5675 511matti.leivo@met.fi

FinancingEmployment and Economic Development Centre for PirkanmaaTechnology UnitP.O.Box 467 (Kauppakatu 4)FIN-33101 TampereJarmo RaittilaTel. 010 521 5315jarmo.raittila@tekes.fi

The Progress of a Clinic Project

CT-Castech IncCybercube OyDelfoi OyElastopoli OyEnmac OyEP-Logistics OyHelsinki University of Technology / Automotive EngineeringHelsinki University of Technology / Machine Design LaboratoryJoensuu Science Park Ltd / Imtec (Plastic and Tools)Joensuu Science Park Ltd / Puugia - Centre for Wood TechnologyLappeenranta University of Technology / Institute of Mechatronics and Virtual EngineeringLappeenranta University of Technology / Laboratory of Steel Structures and Strength of MaterialsLumeo Sofware Inc.Muutostuuli OyNumerola OyPohjois-Savo Polytechnic / WaLT-SIMPOHTO -The Institute for Management and Technological TrainingSeinäjoki Polytechnic/ SeiTekSyncron Tech LtdSW-Development OyTampere University of Technology / Tampere Virtual Reality CenterTampere University of Technology / Department of MathematicsTampere University of Technology / Institute of Production EngineeringVisual Components OyVTT Industrial Systems

SIMULATION CLINIC

Number of Service Providers 25

• 8 research institutions, universities andpolytechnics• 6 technology tranfer institutions• 11 privat companies and consultants

Number of Projects ofSME Enterprises 21(1.5.2002 - 30.4.2003) Auramo Oy Oy Cimet Finland Oy Fibox Enclosure Systems Oy Fibrocom Oy HTR-Steel Oy Hydnum Oy Kurikan Muotopuriste Oy Lammin Betoni Oy Leimet Oy Levypyörä Oy Meconet Oy Nirafon Oy Nokian Capacitors Oy Okartek Oy Orfer Oy Peiron Oy Semko Oy Teknikum Oy Teräspeikko Oy Deltatek Työkalu Kostamo Oy Urho Viljanmaa Oy Jalas

Number ofProjects

10

5

Product Manufacturingprocess

ProductionSystem

Focus

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Focus of Company Projects

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Some General Findings

• the subject of the clinic has proved to be current

• the scope of the focus has proved to be on a suitable level

• the number of service providers has on one hand ”overworked” the coordinator, but on the other hand helped in marketing

• the clinic has activated service providers to offer their services to SMEs • the clinic has made lower the doorstep to exploit the expertise of the service providers for SMEs

• the marketing of technology clinics is demanding

• technology clinics are well suited to supporting problem solving oriented work (processing of funding applications is easy and rapid), effective tool for technology diffusion