1. 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting CLUSTERPLAST Kick-Off Meeting

2. Proplast Created in 1998 by 4 big groups operating in the plastic sector (Bayer, M&G, Basell, Guala Group) Born to develop and PROmote the PLASTic culture, at the beginning mainly through training activities Now Consortium of companies and universities 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

3. Members 113 enterprises 1.Compounds and polymers producers (12) 2.Plastic processing companies (49) 3.Machinery and other devices (19 4.Instruments, tools and software (11) 5.Labs, research centers, others (22) 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

4. Members 8 industrial associations 1.API Alessandria 2.UNIONPLAST 3.PlasticsEurope Italia (FEDERCHIMICA) 4.TMP (Italian association plastic materials technicians) 5.UCISAP 6.UNIONE INDUSTRIALE DI ALESSANDRIA 7.UNIONE INDUSTRIALE DI REGGIO EMILIA 8.Society of Plastics Engineering Italia (SPE) 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

5. Members 3 foundations and public bodies 1.Alessandria Municipality 2.Alessandria Province 3.Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio Alessandria – Bank foundation 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

6. Members 12 universities 1.Politecnico di Torino 2.Università Piemonte Orientale 3.Università di Genova 4.Università di Pisa 5.Università di Palermo 6.Università di Salerno 7.Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia 8.Università di Messina 9.ICIMSI Supsi (Svizzera) 10.Università di Milano 11.Università di Camerino 12.Università di Brescia 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting 136 members

7. Our services (1) 1.HR services Training activities (all levels) Plastic processing degree (Politecnico of Torino - 30 students/year) CAD-CAM and design experts parts and molds (15 students/year) Master in polymer sciences and tecnology (15 students/year) Company training Seminars and congresses Recruitment services Recruitment Organisation of stages and thesis (in Italy and abroad) Tech. Competences evaluation and mapping Continous training programs Talent management 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

8. Our services (2) 1.Technical services Product design (co-design – rapid prototyping) Process design - LCA LCE Process optimisation and technical support Materials - manufact testing (characterisation) Material selection Material optimisation (compounding) Packaging tests (material characterization and processing) 2.Scientific consultancy: polymer optimisation, new compounds, applied research (nanocomposites, biopolymers etc) 3.Others: patenting, marketing, aesthetic design, communication, 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

9. The local network 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting PROVINCEENTERPRISES%PERSONNEL% Torino76757%2010866% Vercelli383%5312% Biella282%4862% Verbano-Cusio- Ossola 322%2561% Novara1048%16515% Cuneo12910%331011% Asti846%10814% Alessandria16512%325311% TOTAL1347100%30676100%

10. The international network 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

11. Project expectations to improve sinergies beetween the various involved Regions - networking to improve mutual solutions/strategies for some practical actions to be developped (training activities, mentoring etc) 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting

12. 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting Project expectations Regional strategy: Alessandria Region -> Piedmont Region -> ALPMED Region -> Eu Region –Enforce the action of PROPLAST as a R&D body recognised at Eu level –Enforce the actions of the Innovative material Pole (Piedmont regional pole centered in Alessandria)

13. 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting Project expectations Plastic convertor industry evolution in your region: –Allow Proplast members (SMEs) to enter into a specialised EU network of customer/suppliers/R&D bodies –Easily build partnerships for R&D funded projects (Eu calls, Manunet, Interreg, etc)

14. 5-6 February 2009WP Presentation-CLUSTERPLAST KO Meeting Project expectations Research infrastructures and priorities: –Exchange of experiences, knowledge and know-how –Phd mobility –Training activities (master courses) –Eu R&D project building – reciprocal involvement