Prof. Gilbert M. Rios C.Eng., F.I.Chem.E (London)

Prof. Gilbert M. Rios C.Eng., F.I.Chem.E (London)

- The concept: NanoMemPro (http://www.nanomempro.com www.nanomempro.com) - The main targets: fighting against dispersion and integrating activities by setting-up new bridges between research and industry, between the different applications areas so as to promote global and durable integration, to strengthen Europe capacities and to make it more efficient with outside collaborations.

- The method: using prevailing existing relations between researchers to build the new framework needed! ACIES (F) IMP.COL.(UK) ICTP (CZ) VITO (BE) IBET (P) GKSS (D) CNR (I) FORTH (GR) DTU (DK) SINTEF (NO) U.TWENTE (NL) LUT (FI) UNIZAR(SP) - A huge investment: A 4 years, 28 WPs activities and 6.5 million euros project (EC - FP6) started in September 2004 to reach these objectives, with a consortium made of 13 major laboratories / research centres representing 13 European countries. CNRS (F) -The final objective: Setting-up a sustainable scheme for innovation and technological development for the benefit of the whole membrane community!

Set-up a high-level and autonomous management! Settle a European Membrane Platform by: reinforcing common tools: => pilot platform, data base on equipment developing communication: => nanomempro.com, Projectplace, Tixeo building data bases: => expertise, programmes, regulations Initiate new ideas and means for training and education of European experts through: master & PhD graduations: => membrane engineering label,hemc=>erasmus Mundus? continuous learning: => EuroMembranes, NanoMemCourse

Propose a plan for mobility in Europe - doctorate students, post graduate students, permanent staff - integrating the different ingredients of daily life : salaries, work, insurance, lodging, family constraints Dissemination and information about membrane technologies towards society (specific events for small children, or information about regulations and BAT ) and industry (participation and/or organisation of airs and professional seminaries) Insert correctly membranes in the context of globalization by: defining a coherent international policy: => new EC countries, other world regions linking activities with other instruments: => NoEs, Technology Platforms

Establish permanent interactions between researchers, industries and endusers to change Management of knowledge by defining a Strategic Business and Research Agenda (SBRA) => A huge work More than one year Creation of NCPs - Contacts with about 300 companies Participation of external experts - Various meetings. 1st version: December 2007 Create a Durable Integrated Structure (DIS) with a Legal Entity, at the service of innovation and technological development in the field of membrane technologies: European Membrane House (EMH)

Legal entity: An international non-profit making Belgium association (AISBL) between institutions Headquarters in Brussels officially created on April 15, 2008 Production of documents : Internal Regulations and corporate governance (end 2008) Business plan (end 2008) Communication and work plan (in progress)

Extract from Internal Regulations Missions: Lobbying for funding and targeted calls Strategy, agencies relationships Support to the creation of start-ups, spin-offs and new branches/activities Association animation Certification, normalization and labeling General assembly Executive board : chair, vce chair,, treasurer, + Assisted by a Scientific Council Technological clusters with industrials participants Sustainable chemistry Energy & economy of processes Water & environment Food, biotechnology & health Materials Modelling & simulation Characterisation Engineering & process Services: Communication Business opportunity studies Technical and scientific expertise Stirring, initiating, energising R&D projects 4 scientific departments (experts) Research establishments college Management, dissemination of R&D projects Tailor made training courses

Sustainable chemistry Technological clusters with industrials participants Energy & economy of processes Water & environment Food, biotechnology & health Materials Modelling & simulation Characterisation Engineering & process EMH clusters and departments will have a quite autonomous daily management, in agreement with the statutes of the EMH and with a clear orientation towards technological development. 4 scientific departments (experts) Research establishments college EMH central management -Board and Scientific Council- will have the responsibility, through lobbying and facilitation activities, to serve the idea of the «holistic approach of membrane technologies beneficial to everybody» which was at the core of the NanoMemPro project. Both will work, under the authority of the General Assembly and in tight relations, to ensure best conditions for valorization using all the appropriate means and ways.

- Founding members: UNIZAR + TWENTE + FORTH + VITO + SINTEF LAPPEENRANTA + ICTP + MONTPELLIER IBET + GKSS + EMS - Board of directors: G. M.Rios...Chair & Ex.Dir.Management & Procedures T. Leikness. Vice Chair & EMS/EMH relations K. Neijmeijer. Technological Innovation & Development S. Nunez. Research & Practical Training I. Genné.. Relations with industry & Fairs - Missions and services: 1. Leading provider for contact settings and services Initiating and supporting new collaborative projects. Carrying out on demand personalised advices and expertises, technological vigilance. Organising and/or participating on behalf of members to brokerage and speed-dating events.

2. Project agent ensuring Inside : up-dating pf the existing tools (data bases, roadmaps, EMH website ). Outside : management and/or information-dissemination tasks...the EMH will imply itself and will take part as far as authorized into in the creation of subsidiary structures when those structures are missing on the market. 3. Strategic advisor Orientation or reorientation of projects towards the best available programmes: FP, EUREKA, national, other international calls Investigation of the possibilities offered by funding sources other than the traditional ones -Feder, Infrastructures, ERA-NET+ - to launch new partnerships between institutions, regions, countries 4. One-stop place for lobbying At the national level with professional associations, poles of activities and funding agencies (such as the pôles de compétitivité or the ANR in France ). At the level of the European Commission following the commitment already taken with NanoMemPro. At the level of third countries through a continuous contact with main actors (Universities, agencies ).

- The EMH and the EMS: EMH European Membrane House (Innovation, RTD ) Researchers & Engineers Companies & Institutions EMS European Membrane Society (Congresses, courses ) The EMH will ensure, for the service of companies in the field of the technological development, a complementary role to that of the EMS, for the service of its individual members in the scientific field. Both will work synergistically and complementarily They will collaborate as much as needed, particularly on the overlapping areas. Both will constitute the unfailing basis of the European Membrane Research Area (EMRA), the part of the ERA concerned with membrane technologies.

- Undoubtedly quite a long way come since: the creation of the EMS (26/02/1982), the idea to set-up a European Network of laboratories (Prof. Smolders and Prof. Cot end of the 1980s) and the first meetings about it (GKSS, CNRS, ITM-CNR & Twente Univ.: end of the 1990s), the NanoMemPro Expression of Interest & further proposal (2002-04). - Today all the instruments available to give the membrane area the e place which it really deserves: either regarding the needs of companies and society (innovation and technological development) or the constraints imposed by globalization (contacts( with other instruments, partnerships with other third countries, etc.).

Researchers & Engineers EMH European Membrane House (Innovation, RTD ) EMS European Membrane Society (Congresses, courses ) Companies & Institutions - The future: They will be no future for those who do not prepare their future We have done our best to prepare the framework for it It is to us together now to build it