Research & Development - Skywin Wallonie - Aerospace cluster of Wallonia

Research and development

Skywin's main objective is to setup and pilot research and and development projects. Those projects have clear objectives: they must generate new economic activities and create new jobs in the region!

One of the specific tool of the clusters, but also something really unique in the context of the Priority Action Plan for Wallonia (the so-called Marshall Plan) is to put around the table universtities, reserach centers and private companies. Speaking aboutcompanies, it is clear that the focus is set on SME's as one of the conditions for eligibility of a project is that it must be led by a company, and must also include at least an SME participation as well as 2 research labs from 2 different institutions.

Skywin is also working on more transversal projects involving other clusters (e.g. Mecatech in the energy domain) and is constantly looking for international collaboration opportunities. Skywin has already signed MoU with 4 international clusters (AeroMontreal in Canada, Aerospace Valley in France, SIATI in India and with Samara region in Russia).

Major eligibility criteria:

Projects must have a strong focus on innovation: products or services portfolio enlargment and/or new production techniques.
Projects must generate an important competitiveness improvement.
Projects must be in phase with the strategic axis defined by the cluster.

As a reminder, Skywin has selected 3 major axis for its strategy:

"+ Composite", aiming at introducing more and more composites in engines, structures and components;
"+ Intelligent", aiming at developing technollogical niches focussing on onbard electronics;
"+ Applications and Services", aiming at developing the Space applications and related services.

Current R&D projects

The table below gives an overview of the current projects presented by Skywin and labelllized by the Government:

Skywin R&D Projects
Name	Call	Axis	Leader	Budget (k€)	Description
APC	1	+C	Techspace Aero	15370	Accelerate the transition of the walloon industry towards the adoption of composites and its related technologies. Optimize the state-of-the-art by increasing cooperation between research actors and industry members, create a network of SME's with strong expertise in composites.
TELECOM	1	+I	Thales (TCB)	5470	Be active in the new generation of onbard electronic systems. Aiming at the development, engineering and production of onbard systems and/or ground systems. Develop new concepts of atomic clocks as well as new human/machine interfaces.
HM+	1	+I	Alcatel Alenia Space ETCA	7140	Engineer, develop and product micro health monitoring systems, integrated to the structures or systems for Space and Aeronautics.
3WSA	1	+A&S	Spacebel	2770	Position Walloonia within European programs by creating an international core center gathering several industrial and commercial initiatives. Develop a software which ensures proper transfer of spatial informations to emergency services users.
CM Expert	2	+C	CoExpair	1060	The objective of the project is to increase the knowledge in composites and to improve the composite state-of-the-art in Wallon companies. More specifically, it targets tools that are used in RTM when manufacturing fiber-reinforced components.
PLM	2	+A&S	Sonaca	3300	This project aims at defining principles and methodologies that are necessary to efficiently conduct PLM. It also aims at obtaining an integrated transversal solution, towards the concept of "virtual factory".
ICS	3	+C	Techspace Aero	660	A large number of projects are focussing on a more electrical aircraft. This means that there will be a need for new cooling technologies, for instance ol cooling circuits. The ICS project (Intelligent Cooling System" will bring solutions in 3 domains : 1. heat management, 2. scavenge system and 3. supply system.
EASi PM	3	+C	CoExpair	425	Preliminary exploration of the potential of using optical fibers as tools for production follow-up and quality assurance in composite production chains.
MULTIPHY	3	+A&S	Open Engineering	6840	This project aims at developing new CAE tools, integrating multi-physics methodologies in order to solve complex aerospace applications. The project will focus on coupling aerodynamics, thermal, structural, acoustics, optics, electricity simulations togheter.
E-COM	3	+C	Techspace Aero	10970	In the + Composite axis, E_COM (Engine COMposite) will investigate the use of various composite materials for engine applications. It will also look at reaching the best compromise in developing new components and will be supported by specific validation tests.
P.A.U.	3	+A&S	Lebrun	4970	Develoment and indutrialization of an air conditioning group for aircrafts on the ground, with the objective of limiting the use of APU's in airports.
MICROLUB	4	+A&S	Tecnolub	1125	This project belongs to the sustainable development call and aims at developing an economic and environmental friendly lubricating system relying on a smart oil spray technology.

Agenda

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March 12-15, 2012

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India Aviation 2012, Hyderabad, IN

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Skywin Wallonie - Aerospace cluster of Wallonia

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