Annual Report 2010 (4.1 MB) - Danish Technological Institute

Cases > Productivity and Logistics
Page >
73
Case
40
Packtrade – a new
innovation network
in Denmark
The Danish Technological
Institute has launched a new
self-funded innovation network
for packaging, trade and distribution.
The Packtrade network
aims to strengthen the interplay
between research, innovation
and technology development.
The rationale is to establish a
permanent national network as
part of the infrastructure in the
Danish innovation system.
In the autumn of 2010, Packtrade
had a terrific start with a well attended
kick-off meeting held at
the Danish Technological Institute.
At the meeting, further network
development was discussed by the
representatives of seventeen universities,
five related food and logistics
innovation networks and the Danish
Technological Institute’s specialist
centre for packaging and transport.
Peter Huntley, Managing Director of
the Danish Packaging Industry, was
pleased with the massive support
from the entire supply chain.
- The great interest underlines
why it’s important for us to have
a common voice and join forces to
coordinate efforts in the packaging
area. Businesses need more innovation
and knowledge in their product
development to face the intensified
price competition in the market, and
that requires inspiration, says Peter
Huntley, adding: The individual universities
don’t have the same broad
dialogue with the corporate sector
as the Danish Technological Institute
does. The new network will engender
much-needed transparency in
terms of who researches what and
why, thus enabling us to optimise
resources for research and development
and create synergies by joining
forces in new, exciting projects.
Because the Danish Technological
Institute is in close contact with the
industry. In addition, the Institute
knows about the most recent trends
in the technology area and how to
submit/what it takes to make a good
application for a research and development
project.
Twelve new project ideas
All expectations for the kick-off
meeting were met. During the day,
participants successfully identified
fifteen Danish and foreign funding
opportunities that will be available
for Danish research and development
projects in 2011. In addition,
participants mapped 199 industrial
or political challenges facing the
packaging and food industry, the
distribution chain and the retail sector.
They also identified twelve ideas
and themes for future research and
development projects and appointed
research teams and chief project
coordinators. Finally, participants
discussed how to be even stronger
in the competition for co-financing
from the Ministry of Science, Technology
and Innovation the next time
it allocates funds for innovation
networks.
In 2011, the twelve ideas and
themes for future research and development
projects will be presented
to Danish companies at a number of
matchmaking events at the Danish
Technological Institute.