The aim of the Advanced Materials, Technologies and Systems specialisation domain is to support the development of the backbone economic sectors and to ensure the production of modern equipment, technological parts and other components usable across the economic segments of the Czech Republic.
The domain is included under the thematic area Advanced machinery and technologies.
Why are advanced materials, technologies and systems included among the RIS3 priorities?
- Advanced materials, technologies and systems can be used in traditional backbone sectors of the Czech economy
- The pressure to limit emissions, reduce the consumption of materials and primary raw materials, and save energy has been increasing.
- Demands for production accuracy, quality, production performance and reliability are increasing, all while reducing production costs.
- In order to maintain the Czech Republic’s competitiveness, it is necessary to make products with higher added value, which cannot be done without innovation.
Application sectors in the thematic area
The thematic area Advanced machinery and technologies comprises four application sectors:
- Engineering and mechatronics
- Energy
- Metallurgy
- Industrial chemistry
Strategic themes Research and Innovation in Application Sectors - Engineering and Mechatronics
Strategic themes group Engineering Production Technology and Progressive Technologies, Engineering Equipment and Components
Research and innovations will focus, among other things, on improved solutions for machine tools and forming machines, material cutting machines, machines for additive technologies, techniques and for in-process and output control, new tools for engineering production technology. Technologies and equipment will be developed with regard to the increasing demands on production and products in terms of quality parameters (precision, material properties, surface properties, ergonomics, etc.), production performance, productivity, energy and economic efficiency, functional and process reliability, demands for customisation and accompanying services in the field of digitalisation, monitoring and diagnostics.
Strategic themes group New and Innovative Materials
New metallic and non-metallic materials will be developed for the construction of machines and equipment for their operation. It will also focus on processes in advanced materials with specific properties (reduced density alloys, low bulk density alloys, composites), nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, nano-structured and composite materials and other applications of nanoparticles. Attention will also be paid to materials usable in abrasion- and corrosion-resistant surface treatments. Research will also focus on finding alternative substitute materials and improving known materials.
Strategic themes for research and innovation in application sectors - Energy sector
Strategic themes group New Energy Sources
A significant theme is Safe and Reliable Nuclear Energy, Preparation of Next Generation Nuclear Power Sources (Nuclear Fission and Fusion), where research will focus in particular on tools and procedures for increasing the efficiency and reliability of operation, extending the lifetime of sources and ensuring the safety of nuclear facilities, including the preparation of tools for emergency management. The development of the next generation of nuclear fission sources, including small modular reactors, is also promising as is participation in the development of fusion-based sources. Technologies will be developed for decontamination, decommissioning of nuclear sources and for the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Equally important for ensuring the energy security of the Czech Republic are also Renewable Sources suitable in the conditions of the Czech Republic for the production of electricity and heat. Research will focus on advanced photovoltaic sources (including non-silicon cells and solutions as part of buildings), wind energy, hydro sources (efficiency of larger sources, small hydroelectric plants), biomass sources (digestion – including technologies for biomethane production), sources using environmental energy (heat pumps) and geothermal sources for heat production. Renewable energy sources based on combustion processes – biomass sources (including efficient and environmentally friendly local heating plants) and waste-to-energy sources.
This group also includes Advanced Low Emission Fossil Fuel Sources, mainly with CCS/CCU, where technologies for reducing emissions (GHG and pollutants) of operating coal sources, fossil fuel sources with low carbon footprint, mainly gas sources, with the application of CO2 separation and its storage or utilisation (CCS/CCU), or other options for achieving low emissions (such as hydrogen addition) will be researched and developed Innovation in gas-based technologies (natural gas, with an increase in biomethane and hydrogen) can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the heating sector and individual heat supply in the Czech Republic.
Hydrogen is one of the new environmentally-friendly sources and research focused on hydrogen technologies to support the decarbonisation of energy and especially industry will be very important for the Czech Republic’s prospects.
Strategic themes group Transmission Systems
Innovation in the transmission and distribution system can significantly contribute to the efficiency of electricity distribution. Therefore, research will focus on the concept of smart grids, which includes, for example, the preparation of electricity networks and their components (including control systems) for operation in new conditions, the integration of new categories of generation and consumption, new elements, and equipment to ensure reliable operation of the transmission and distribution systems. Attention will also be paid to integrated energy solutions at the level of cities, parts of cities., and interconnections with rural areas, as well as within the community or based on local distribution systems.
Strategic themes group Energy Savings
Research and innovation will focus on systems and technologies for energy saving and energy efficiency improvement, such systems for achieving energy savings in industry (e.g. production equipment and auxiliary systems with lower energy consumption, frequency converters), in services and non-residential buildings (e.g. energy recovery), municipal infrastructure (e.g. energy efficient lighting systems), residential (e.g. smart meters, smart appliances, overall integration of elements into smart homes) and agriculture (e.g. use of heat from biogas plants). It will also focus on thermal management (voltage switches).
Strategic themes for research and innovation in application sectors - Metallurgy
Strategic themes group Materials, Products, Technologies and Production Processes in Metallurgy
Research and innovation in the metals industry will focus in particular on materials and components essential to the industry. Improving the material properties of products such as steel, non-ferrous metals, alloys and others is important. New and sophisticated materials will also be developed, such as new steels, alloys and composites, superconductors, biocompatible metallic materials, etc. There is also a need to address the modification of materials to extend their lifetime. Technologies and production processes in metallurgical and foundry production will have to undergo major innovation challenges, especially in relation to energy savings. They will focus, for example, on powder metallurgy, the use of hydrogen, the introduction of artificial intelligence, the circular economy and CCS/U technologies.
Strategic themes for research and innovation in application sectors - Industrial Chemistry
Strategic themes group Cleaner Industrial Chemistry
The research and the application of its results in innovation will focus on technologies with waste minimisation and chemical recycling options, such as nano-fibre membranes and filters. In general, R&D will focus on technologies in chemical production that reduce negative environmental impacts as well as energy consumption.
Strategic themes group Advanced Materials, Organic Compounds and Biotechnology
Research in the field of advanced materials focuses mainly on advanced plastics, biomaterials, biodegradable materials, advanced catalysts, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, special fibres, etc. The focus will also be on sophisticated organic compounds, such as for microelectronics. Research in biotechnology can lead to innovations in products such as catalysts, bioreactors and biofuels. Metal materials for industrial and consumer use will also play a significant role.
Strategic themes group Processes and Technologies with Environmental Impact
Industrial chemistry has a major impact on the environment. For that reason, research will focus on processes in the fields of energy conversion and storage, carbon capture and its subsequent use, such as in hydrogen technologies, which are becoming increasingly important. Innovative production methods using renewable and sustainable energy sources will be required to produce hydrogen. This creates a large space for research activities. More efficient separation processes and procedures to eliminate hazardous chemicals will not be neglected.
Key enabling technologies in the Advanced Machines, Technologies and Systems domain
In this domain, the following key enabling technologies are particularly applicable. Each of them can be used to innovate in all application sectors belonging to this domain, but also in other areas.
The specific research and innovation themes for key enabling technologies in this domain can be found in Annex 1 to the National RIS3.
More detailed general information on key enabling technologies can be found here.
Themes concerning social sciences, humanities and arts under the Advanced Machines, Technologies and Systems domain
The following SSHA themes will be explored and developed in this domain:
- Research on the interrelationships between society, technology and innovation
- Addressing 21st century societal challenges associated with emerging technologies
- Security Research
More detailed general information on the themes of social sciences, humanities and arts can be found here.
National Innovation Platform Advanced machinery and technologies
National Innovation Platforms are working groups where the entrepreneurial discovery process (EDP) is put into practice.
The domain of Advanced Machines, Technologies and Systems is discussed in the National Innovation Platform I - Advanced Machinery and Technologies.
Contacts:
Professional guarantor of National Innovation Platform I - Advanced machinery and technologies: Jan Smolík, Czech Technical University in Prague, j.smolik@rcmt.cvut.cz
Secretary of National Innovation Platform I - Advanced machinery and technologies: Lenka Paříková, MIT CR, parikova@mpo.cz
