Swiss Materials

Creating a Competence Centre for Materials Technologies

Initial Situation

Help with Materials Questions

The current project is an initiative launched by ITS Schaffhausen (Industry & Technology Knowledge Hub) and receives funding support from five cantons. Swiss Materials addresses materials science challenges confronting Swiss SMEs at the product development stage or when the product is in use.

Many businesses struggle to find suitable expert help to solve problems during the product innovation process. The project’s purpose is to tap into a widespread network to secure help and reduce delays in resolving issues.

Project Profile

Network partners

Network events annually

Approach

Source of help & signposting

The Swiss Materials team (Generis AG) works closely with individual materials science experts as well as with multipliers such as sector associations and special interest groups in order to create a knowledge network which businesses can call on rapidly when materials questions arise.

Queries are routed to the network via a Hotline operated by Swiss Materials, which also chairs time-limited specialist groups to tackle frequently arising questions and holds Materials Meet-Ups on key topics to facilitate the exchange of ideas between companies.

Achievements

Creating the structure & expert network

The project developed over a number of phases during the initial funding period which ran till late 2019. An early focus was a triage system by experts in materials questions as well as awareness raising via activities within the network of contacts.

This included holding Materials Meet-Ups on specific topics for SMEs across the five sponsoring cantons in order to stimulate inter-regional exchanges.

Günter Bergmann

CEO,
Suisse Technology Partners

«As a Swiss service provider dedicated to materials science and surface treatment technologies, Swiss Materials is the platform to bring together highly-qualified experts and businesses in the sector.»