Brief overview of the final results of the European research project PROsumer.NET presented by Lutz Walter, Euratex at the project's final conference in May 2013 in Brussels

1. Why PROsumer.NET? Main activities and results of the project
Lutz Walter - Project Coordinator
PROsumer.NET Final Conference – Brussels, 27-28 May 2013
The European Consumer Goods Research Initiative

2. European Consumer Goods Research Initiative
Networking European Technology Platforms addressing Design-based
Consumer Goods Industries and Related Research and Technology Fields
Duration: June 2011 – May 2013
Scheme: 7th Framework Programme
Nanotechnologies, Materials & Production NMP
Project Partnership
Related European Technology Platforms

3. Where is the consumer in ?
A stronger focus on research and innovation policies for the
consumer sectors (goods and services) is needed.
Why PROsumer.NET?
Household final consumption represents 56.5% of European Union GDP
Design-based consumer goods sectors represent 13.5% of EU industrial
employment & over 20% of EU manufacturing companies
European Research and Innovation Policies are currently focused on: % Horizon 2020 budget
Excellence in Science (= basic research) 33%
High-tech investments in sectors addressing Societal Challenges
(mainly infrastructure and investment goods) 43%
Enabling Technologies for industrial leadership (= investment goods) 24%

4. 1. What is the (design-based) consumer goods industry and how
important is it for Europe?
2. How innovative is this industry and does is need/use research
and new technologies?
3. What are the main socio-economic, market and innovation
trends affecting this industry?
4. What are the innovation trends and research/technology needs
with the highest priority?
5. Have these diverse sectors anything in common and does it
make sense to work together?
6. What are the things policy makers can do to support research,
technology development and innovation in this industry?
Key Questions to Answer

5. The Design-based Consumer Good Industry
European Turnover > 400 bn € 6.5%*
Added value 120+ bn € 7.5%*
Directly Employed 4.2 million 13.5%*
Number of companies ~ 420,000 21.0%*
Textile Clothing Leather Footwear Jewellery Watches
Toys Sport goods Interior products and furniture Design packaging Spectacles
Kitchen, table and glassware Bags and accessories Consumer health productsSanitary products
Figures for 2011, source Eurostat, * percentage of total EU manufacturing industry

6. Innovation is vital in the European design-based consumer goods industries, because:
 Markets are fiercely competitive and market barriers are low
 Cost leadership is virtually impossible, the key is differentiation
 Demand changes are rapid, unpredictable and product life cycles are short
 Consumers constantly expect something new, unique and exciting
 Buying decisions are driven by desires and emotions, not by basic needs
 End markets (in Europe) are mostly mature, overall market growth is slow
 Human creativity, novel materials and new technologies offer an endless potential for
new products & product-services
Despite small average R&D spending & few patents, the design-based
consumer goods industry is highly innovative, invests heavily in innovation and
takes a lot of risk.
Innovation?

7. 2
Socio-economic trend
analysis
Research and technology
state-of-the-art
Future scenarios
Joint research roadmap
Main Project Activities
1
Expert network
development
Communication platform

8. 4
 Report on the common
innovation challenges
 Innovation action plan + policy
recommendations
 Exit strategy for continuation of
activities after project end
Main Project Activities
3
 Project clustering and joint results
dissemination
 Platform for the development of
joint projects

9. Thank you for your attention
More information on
www.prosumernet.eu
www.linkedin.com/groups/PROSUMERNET-
European-Consumer-Goods-Research-5031970