Austria

K2- Centre MPPE (Integrated Research in Materials, processing and Product Engineering)

Research programme:
MPPE is focused on research in the areas of material development, manufacturing processes and the behaviour in service of metals, ceramics and composites in structural components, tools and electronic components.

Planned realisation and outcomes:
By means of coupled experiment – simulation – approaches on all length scales (from the atom to the components) it is possible to develop and optimize materials and manufacturing processes. The focuses such as innovative materials and processes, conservation of resources, environmental friendliness, quality improvements or cost reductions can be processed in an efficient way.

K2 Centre XTRIBOLOGY (Excellence Centre of Tribology)

Research programme
Tribology; Lubricants and Surface Interactions, Wear Processes, Integrated
Tribodiagnostics and -design, Multiscale Computational Tribology

Planned realisation and outcomes
The centre will carry out an ambitious research programme with high international visibility. Major achievements will be
• advanced lubricant formulation (e.g., ionic liquids/additives) and sensors for condition monitoring,
• functional characterization and design of tribo-active surface structures,
• design concepts (material/component design) avoiding
abrasive wear,
• techniques for in-situ nano wear volume measuring,
• customized friction models for powertrain design,
• multiscale modelling of tribosystems covering material physics (ab initio) to structural dynamics.

K1 Centre PCCL (Competence Center in Polymer Engineering and Science)

Research programme
 Polymer chemistry, polymer processing, polymers in structural applications, surfaces and interfaces of polymeric materials

Planned realisation and outcomes
 - New polymeric materials with designed properties for specific applications, e.g. photopatterning
 - Advanced technologies in polymer processing, e.g. variotherm processes, incl. simulation and modeling
 - Efficient concepts, procedures and methods for testing and characterization of polymeric products, e.g. aircraft composite structures and high-pressure thermoplastics pipes
 - Polymers with barrier properties, e.g. for protection of solar cells and for application in pipe systems
 - Functionalized polymer surfaces and interfaces with tunable properties, e.g. for controlling interfacial bonding

CEST (Centre of Excellence in Electrochemical Surface Technology and Materials)

Research programme:
 Corrosion research and Technology, Chromium (VI) – free corrosion protection development, functional layers, Batterytechnology, Bioelectrochemistry, Sensor technology

Planned realisation and outcomes:
For the production of tailored surfaces a deep understanding of the structure / property relationship is required. The practical laboratory work is thereby assisted by modelling and simulation activities to broaden the understanding of the occurring reactions at a molecular level. The so produced surfaces will be analysed by newly developed in-situ electro- and spectroelectrochemical methods. Another important topic in the centres scientific work will be the replacement of harmful chemicals in the production chain to establish a green surface technology. The new scientific field of Bioelectrochemistry will focus on the development of novel sensor systems for the specific and selective detection of toxins and pharmaceuticals (“single molecule detection”).

K1 Centre K1-MET (Competence center for Excellent Technologies in Advanced Metallurgical and Environmental Process Development)

Research programme:
Key research topics under the aspect of a benchmark for the sustainable material
production are
- Resource efficiency in metallurgy for primary and secondary raw materials as well as
energy and CO2
- Development of the process technology in the high temperature area and the
following processing steps
- Modelling and simulation as a cross sectorial approach

Planned realisation and outcomes
- New methods for optimized use of raw materials and wastes
- Advanced processes and materials by means of practical experiments and simulation
- Advanced steel qualities with higher purity and better surface properties
- Development of advanced energy recovery for today not recoverable energy sources
- Development of cross-sectional simulation tools as well as new prediction methods and real-time models

K1 centre WOOD (Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry)

Research programme Wood:
Bio-based materials as building block for bio-economy: new materials and knowledge
based production processes based on the principle of cascadic utilization of wood and
related lignocellulosic raw materials

Planned realisation and outcomes
Resource- and energy-efficient production processes; development of new resources for cellulosic materials, integrated bio-refinery concepts by utilization of by-products and waste-streams, intelligent process control Bio-based materials with new functions and properties, 100 % bio-based composites, carbon materials from biogenic precursors, hybrid systems with optimized performance, new Kraft paper composites, advanced bonding technologies, more efficient processes in wood processing- & composite-industries, advanced materials with increased durability, reduced weight and improved mechanics

K1 centre ACMIT (Austrian Center for Medical Innovation and Technology)

Research programme:
Medical technology

Planned realisation and outcomes
- multi-functional, mechatronic or computer-controlled surgical instruments
- medical robots with focus on needle-based methods
- sensors for tissue properties
- micro-optics for implants, instruments and individualised test systems
- integration of new technologies into clinical workflow and training concepts for medical staff

K1 centre  ASSIC (Austrian Smart Systems Integration Research Center)

Research programme:
Smart Systems Integration, Microsystem Technologies, Heterogeneous Integration, Packaging, Smart Systems Solutions

Planned realisation and outcomes
Micro- and nano-electronic components and systems are essential to modern digital products and services. Mastering the technologies of smart systems integration is thus becoming a key issue for the future of Europe’s economy. ASSIC targets a holistic R&D approach from single components to complete system solutions. Concrete outcomes comprise the
*) development of components, micro-modules and integrated smart systems demonstrating increased functionality and advanced performance
*) development and optimisation of related process technologies for microsystem device and packaging manufacturing
*) development and refinement of tools and methods for design and integration of smart systems

K1 centre CDP (Austrian Center for Digital Production)

Research programme:
Virtualisation of product design, process planning and control, orchestration of production networks, flexible and reconfigurable automation, machine-to-machine communication, socioeconomic impacts of digital production

Planned realisation and outcomes:
The fourth industrial revolution will require manufacturing companies to support a seamless integration of all process stepsincluding automation, control and documentation. Therefore, the envisaged centre will cover all process steps ranging from acquisition to delivery: The virtualisation of product and production systems allows for a comprehensive product specification and a reliable process planning. The (further) development of design automation accelerates not only the design process but also the work planning. Standardised protocols for machine-to-machine communication support the implementation of flexible and reconfigurable automation systems, which by the support of flexible and intelligent clamping and tool systems are effective also for small lot sizes and facilitate fully automated operations. Digital platforms and networks for production allow the dynamic formation of virtual smart factories enabling low tier manufacturers to provide a combined and therefore value-added service.

K1 dentre Pro²Future (Products and Production Systems of the Future)

Research programme:
The Pro2Future initiative builds on top of the consortiums expertise in mechatronic systems,networked embedded systems, cyber-physical systems, smart/pervasive/ubiquitous systems, systems of systems, big data analytics and data-driven predictive models,, semantic and intelligent systems, and will explore innovative ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) for production systems and future products. The main emphasis is on cognitive systems.

Planned realisation and outcomes
Pro2Future attempts for next generation products and manufacturing machinery (holistically combining batch and continuousprocess industries), with embedded cognitive capabilities so as to perceive, understand, interpret, learn, reason and deduce,and act in an autonomous self-organized way together with humans. This includes three major scientific areas, each taken from foundational and goal-oriented research disciplines related to cognitive systems, namely (i) Perception and Aware Systems, (ii) Cognitive Robotics and Shop Floors and (iii) Cognitive Decision Making, ultimately delivering the technological underpinning of (iv) Cognitive Products and (v) Cognitive Production Systems.

K1 centre VRVis K1 (VRVis K1 Centre for Visual Computing)

Research programme:
Visual Computing, Multiple Senses, Visualization, Visual Analysis

Planned realisation and outcomes:
Good and correct decisions are the basis for success. In 2025 we will be able to use visualization and further human senses and output modalities beyond the desktop to enable effective and efficient workflows for applications requiring the human in the loop. We will have increased decision confidence based on complex data from e.g. medicine, environment, production, development and IoT in the presence of uncertainty while overcoming analytical limitations imposed by volume, velocity and variety of data. VRVis will provide with its more than 70 researchers expertise and research capabilities in order to transfer disruptive and innovative 3D technologies to our partners, and perform internationally renowned research.

Comet Centre K2 - Linz Center of mechatronics GmbH

Research programme:
Visual Computing, Multiple Senses, Visualization, Visual Analysis

Planned realisation and outcomes:
Good and correct decisions are the basis for success. In 2025 we will be able to use visualization and further human senses and output modalities beyond the desktop to enable effective and efficient workflows for applications requiring the human in the loop. We will have increased decision confidence based on complex data from e.g. medicine, environment, production, development and IoT in the presence of uncertainty while overcoming analytical limitations imposed by volume, velocity and variety of data. VRVis will provide with its more than 70 researchers expertise and research capabilities in order to transfer disruptive and innovative 3D technologies to our partners, and perform internationally renowned research.

Comet Centre K1 - Competence center Chase GmbH

Research programme:
Chase - chemical systems engineering

Planned realisation and outcomes:
CHASE addresses the critical parameter spaces in time and space relevant scales in the industrial environment.
The industrial chemical processes will be transferred to relevant and flexible scales (via existing and new pilot lines) and the chemical systems will be evaluated applying new process analytical techniques as well as hybrid
models. The overall goal is to develop a digital twin describing the respective process chain in order to enable an efficient, flexible and predictive process management and control.
By combining the scientific competencies of JKU Linz, TU Vienna and other non-university research institutions, CHASE enables corporate partners to quickly enter efficient and sustainable production.