European Interegg program awards AACOMA project

Interegg Europe, a European Regional Development Fund with the European Union (EU, Brussels, Belgium), reports that it has awarded the Interegg Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) region with its new project, AACOMA. The project, supporting the development of advanced composite manufacturing, plans to connect 200 SMEs to institutes and technical centers in the EMR region and aims to run until 2023. 

Interegg EMR is one of 60 Interreg areas in Europe where EU funds are made available for cross-border collaboration. Interegg EMR covers parts of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

Through investments in cross-border projects, the EU has funded the economic development, innovation, territorial development and social inclusion and education of the EMR region through several program periods. The fifth program period, 2014-2020, includes the AACOMA project and its priorities have potential in an area where the composites sector is very active.  

“The AACOMA project will be an important element for trans-border research and will identify new players in the value chain coming from the EMR region,” says Professor Gunnar Seide from the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Bio-based Materials (AMIBM)/the Netherlands. “Innovative companies find markets for their new bio-based building blocks, chemicals and polymers. Their success stories and upcoming technological breakthroughs are needed for a sustainable future.” 

Interreg EMR, will carry out AACOMA with seven partners from these regions, including Centexbel, University of Liège, Sirris and Flanders Make, Fontys University of Applied Science, AMIBM of Maastricht University and Advanced Materials Advisory and Consultancy (AMAC). The project, estimated to run for three years, has an estimated budget of €3 million.

Michael Effing, managing director of AMAC in Germany, says, “We will facilitate six roadshow events, addressing key topics like automated manufacturing, additive manufacturing or bio-based material systems combined with matchmaking and training events. The first roadshow will be held on Sept. 24, 2020, at the Aachen campus of the RWTH University of Technology.”