Innovation Ecosystem to Accelerate the Industrial Uptake of Advanced Surface Nano-Technologies (NewSkin)

Nano-enabled surfaces offer a huge potential for a wide range of industrial markets (including transportation, renewable energy, medicine and steel construction). However, there are still major barriers to the commercial use of these technologies in industrial applications. For this reason, the EU-funded project “NewSkin” aims to create an Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). This OITB will provide the necessary research infrastructure (innovation ecosystem) to accelerate the industrial uptake of these technologies. The processes required for this are

• the definition of the design of the modified surface structures,
• the optimization of pilot plants for the production of prototypes and the definition of industrial processes,
• the development of test facilities to evaluate the new surface properties under real operating conditions,
• the provision of commercial services.

The project aims to bring together all these competences in an innovation ecosystem with a large number of European research institutions and companies. As part of the project, the IDS is involved in both the surface design and the development of the necessary test infrastructure. The focus of IDS is on the tribological contact between surfaces of technical components in relative motion. The test rigs to be set up will be used to evaluate modified surfaces and quantify the effects on energy efficiency and wear behaviour of technical components. Transient motion and load profiles will be investigated in both translational and rotational applications. In addition, test capabilities will be established to allow parallel service life tests. The novel surface modifications will initially be demonstrated on various sample components. Seals, gears, bearings, shafts, radial shaft seals, but also turbine blades and pistons will be considered. The innovation ecosystem will then be opened up to industry in order to transfer the surface modification technology to a wide range of industrial and consumer goods. After completion of the project, the OITB will continue to exist as an independent organization in order to make the research infrastructure created available to industry.