The Challenges of IOIP Resources Innovation Edition
The first edition of IOIP Open Innovation Program focused on 21 Challenges proposed by the 21 Emilia-Romagna corporate partners. These were grouped in 3 thematic clusters.
Cluster 1: WASTE RECOVERY AND REUTILIZATION
The cluster includes challenges aimed at scouting technologies or methodologies to optimize waste management and recover waste materials, both organic (such as vegetable by-products) and inorganic (such as plastic) from production processes.
#1. Methodologies or tools for reusing construction waste materials (plastic and concrete)
Solution to improve the quality of the company’s product (pre-mixed, multi-purpose mortar) generated reutilizing construction waste material (plastic and concrete), and/or create new products with the same inputs.
#2. Methodologies and/or technologies for rationalizing use of water and/or recovering wastewater in pharmaceutical industry
Methodologies and technologies for rationalizing use of water and recovering wastewater at industrial level in the pharmaceutical sector.
#3. Technologies for separating mixed plastic waste materials
Technology or a combination of technologies (hardware and/or software) capable of separating mixed plastic waste materials, in order to obtain pure plastic materials.
#4. Circular applications of calcium phosphate and bioceramics powder or granules
Solutions to reuse calcium phosphate (precisely, hydroxyapatite) and bioceramics in powdered or granular form. Potential applications are sought in various industries, with a preference for the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector.
#5. Technologies for transforming or reusing vegetable by-products at large-scale
Technology or a combination of technologies (hardware and/or software), to transform vegetable byproducts and waste into innovative ingredients and/or raw material with a low unit cost, for large scale use.
#6. Methodologies and/or tools for transforming animal waste into a high value-added output
Solution to transform animal waste derived from alien species into either production inputs or final products of high commercial value.
#7. Technologies for efficient plastic-metal separation in waste
Innovative technologies that enable efficient separation of mixed waste materials (plastic and metal compounds).
#8. Methodologies or tools for the analysis and reuse of mixed production waste
Methodologies and/or tools for the analysis and reuse of mixed production waste materials (e.g., combinations of plastic materials, coated paper, glues, solvents, ink,…), to identify new potential circular applications.
#9. Processing technologies for reusing waste derived from the refining of vegetable oils and fats
Processing technologies (hardware and/or software) for reusing the waste derived from the refining of vegetable oils and fats (e.g., fatty acids, spent bleaching earth, digestates with bleaching earth).
Cluster 2: AUTOMATION AND PROCESS EFFICIENCY
This cluster includes challenges that are aimed at scouting for solutions that enable automation, efficiency improvement, as well as error reduction in business and production processes, to minimize waste and reduce costs.
#10. Software capable of reconstructing a single, motion-free image from a moving cardiac radiological acquisition
Software technology capable of reconstructing a single, motion-free image, starting from a moving cardiac acquisition. The solution should allow to obtain precise images of blood vessels, suitable for angiographic diagnostic purposes
#11. Methodologies and/or technologies for plastic waste removal in pipe manufacturing
Methodologies and/or technologies for the removal of plastic waste (flakes or dust of e.g., PVC, PE, PP, …) generated during the production of plastic pipes. The ideal solution would allow to collect plastic residues for recycling purposes.
#12. Technologies or tools for automating the detection of fabric defects
Technologies and/or tools (hardware and/or software) to automate the detection of fabric defects, through comparison with a fabric sample taken as a reference quality standard (golden standard).
#13. Visual and measurement technologies to automate quality control procedures
Innovative visual and measurement technologies that allow to improve quality control processes, by automating the detection of production errors
#14. Machinery for automating waste separation of textile fibers from its spools
Machinery that can: automate the process of separating textile fibers from its spools; recognize different type of materials, in order to divide waste into homogeneous categories (plastic spools, cardboard spools, and fibers of the same type)
Cluster 3: NEW MATERIALS AND RESOURCES OPTIMIZATION
This cluster includes challenges aimed at scouting for solutions that enable automation, efficiency improvement, as well as error reduction in business and production processes, to minimize waste and reduce costs.
#15. Methodologies or tools for extending and/or measuring the shelf life of agricultural products
Solutions to extend and/or measure effectively the shelf life of agricultural products, in order to reduce waste along the value chain.
#16. Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technologies for efficient co-generation of electrical and thermal energy
SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) technologies for efficient co-generation of electrical and thermal energy. The ideal Solver can assist the company in the development, installation and subsequent maintenance of energy systems powered by SOFCs.
#17. Methodologies and tools to improve the efficiency of small-sized batteries
Methodologies and tools to improve the efficiency of light-weight and small sized batteries, suitable for cordless electric wheel guns.
#18. Materials, tools or methodologies for manufacturing items with expanded polymers
Materials, tools or methodologies for manufacturing items through injection molding of expanded polymers. The ideal solution ensures that the expansion process is flexible, i.e., it enables to mold different items with the same machine and be applicable to multiple machines.
#19. Biological and sustainable liquid adhesives for woodworking
Biological and sustainable liquid adhesives for woodworking, with technical properties and technological performance equivalent to the chemical glues currently utilized in the in the wood panel production industry.
#20. Methodologies or technologies for filtering aqueous solutions to purify proteins derived from waste materials
Technologies and/or methodologies for filtering aqueous solutions to purify proteins derived from waste materials. The ideal solution allows to obtain a water-soluble keratin without altering the protein’s characteristics, in a resource-efficient way (in terms of time and water usage).
#21. Research of sustainable textile fabrics that safely store and conduct energy
Innovative textile fabrics that can safely store and conduct energy. The ideal material is sustainable and suitable for industrial textile production techniques, in particular for knitwear manufacturing.
