Strategic Community “Advanced Polymers”
AFIL’s commitment in the sector is linked to Lombardy’s leadership in the production and processing of polymers and composites, as well as in the manufacturing of machines and accessories for the transformation of plastic products.
In particular, within the framework of Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing, one of the major technological challenges is represented by the development and use of polymer-based materials and products with additional functionalities, capable of being integrated into intelligent platforms and produced with a circular approach throughout their entire life cycle.
In this context, the Strategic Community “Advanced Polymers” aims to increase regional competitiveness through cross-sectoral and interregional networking actions, and to support Research and Innovation activities, fostering the creation of partnerships to access funding opportunities at regional, national, and European levels.
KEY TOPICS OF THE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY
The Strategic Community has identified the following topics as relevant for the regional ecosystem:
- bio-based polymer and composite materials;
- smart polymer materials for reprocessable, repairable, and recyclable composites;
- processing and manufacturing technologies for components based on smart plastics/composites;
- smart products with integrated passive sensors;
- plastronics, i.e., polymer products equipped with integrated processing and communication electronics;
- management of data from smart objects, supporting optimized product design and predictive maintenance.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE STRATEGIC COMMUNITY
Active since 2021, the Strategic Community is coordinated, on the academic side, by Politecnico di Milano and the University of Brescia, and on the industrial side by ROLD. Members of the Strategic Community interact regularly through the organization of in-person meetings, company visits, and missions abroad (for example, during the Smart Polymers Congress 2024 and 2025, as well as On-site Deep Dives and Staff Exchanges of the PLASTIX project). These activities allow members to discuss directions for potential joint projects, assess funding opportunities, and share best practices.
At the beginning of 2023, the synergy between two initiatives involving the Cluster, the “Sustainable and Smart Advanced Polymers Value Chain” and the European project PLASTIX, took shape. In addition to responding to a specific request from Lombardy Region, the creation of the value chain makes it possible to focus the Strategic Community’s attention on new insights and further areas of exploration and is closely linked to the activities of the European project, which focuses on policies related to plastic recycling, reuse, and replaceability. Also thanks to the financial support of PLASTIX, AFIL involved its members in project initiatives, allowing them both to interact directly with Lombardy Region (Associated Policy Authority in the project) and to connect with organizations from other regions within the consortium.
Participation in the demo-case “Polymer-based functional products” of the Pilot Efficient and Sustainable Manufacturing (ESM) of the Vanguard Initiative is also instrumental to the activities of the Strategic Community. This initiative mainly focuses on strengthening value chains linked to the European production of functional components based on polymer materials through the progressive development, testing, scalability, and integration of advanced and sustainable solutions in processes and materials.
THE LOMBARDY REGION VALUE CHAINS
Collaboration within the Strategic Community Advanced Polymers led to the creation of the “Sustainable and Smart “Advanced Polymers” Value Chain” project, approved and recognized by Lombardy Region within the framework of the Call for Expressions of Interest for Value Chains, through Decree of the Directorate-General for Economic Development No. 2490 of February 22, 2023. The value chain, coordinated by ROLD, aims to develop sustainable, functionalized, and smart polymers, as well as to promote processes and technologies for automation, digitalization, and end-of-life.
CONTACTS
Samuel Nazzareno Monaco – samuel.monaco@afil.it
Eda Ipek – eda.ipek@afil.it