The RTD Cluster
The AMI-4-SME project provides cross-sectorial industrial participation, aiming at knowledge communities of SME users, RTD and ICT vendors leading to development of long-term visions on the future of manufacturing. Therefore, contacts are established with other projects, while AMI-4-SME is continuously searching for potential cooperation and experience exchange.
Moreover, AMI-4-SME is part of the Cluster of European RFID Projects (CERP), initiated by the European Commission. The objectives of CERP are as follows:
- to facilitate networking of different European projects,
- to coordinate research activities,
- to assure coherence of work in Europe,
- to establish synergies between projects and
- to leverage expertise, talents, and resources and maximize impact.
Further information about the CERP cluster are available via www.rfid-in-action.eu/cerp
Project Rational - The Work Plan
Based on the technology potentials and refined AmI reference models, the business cases were analysed in detail and served as key references to derive SME innovation needs (i.e. which technology and AmI functionality is most promising for SME environments).
Moreover, AMI-4-SME applies an incremental prototyping approach, starting with concept prototypes as key reference for the specification and development of the innovation methodology and AmI solutions (building blocks). Subsequently the implemented early and full prototypes were tested and assessed in the described business cases (i.e. real shop floor environments). Finally, 3 business cases served as demonstrators, open for public interest facilitating the understanding of both technology as well as reengineered processes - "a new organisation of work", enabled by applying the methodology for systemic innovation in SMEs.