Composites Global Innovation Challenge for startups and SMEs

Deadline: 3 May 2024

Are you a trailblazing SME or startup in the world of fiber composites or leading researcher at an institute? Imagine a world where your innovation thrives, where your solutions make an impact, and where you are at the forefront of industry change and working with industry leaders. Then Collab Composite is for you.

Check out the four challenges from Saab & Hitachi Energy below. Decide which ones are for you:

Saab Challenge
- Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions from military defence in all domains to civil security and uses advanced composite materials in e.g. aircraft structures, ship structures and radar installations.
- Challenge 1: Embedded Functions and Intelligence
  - With the advent of modern composites, advanced components, and innovative production methods, the opportunity to imbue materials or structures with ‘intelligence’ has become a reality. At SAAB, they are eager to harness this potential to enhance their product Gripen “the smart fighter” and elevate its sophistication.
  - They are keen to explore technologies or solutions that can integrate sensors, functionalities, or ‘smart’ features into structural components. Examples of multifunctional structural areas of interest are: lightning strike protections anti-icing surfaces, cooling, health monitoring, morphing structures, de-icing systems, energy management systems and in-built air data sensors
  - Whether it’s detecting structural compromise caused by lightning or other phenomena, or implementing sophisticated sensing and data analysis capabilities, they’re open to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
  - The sky is not even the limit!
- Challenge 2: High voltages and Lightning impulses
  - In their applications, their composites are subjected to flashovers and lightning strikes. They seek composites capable of enduring high voltages and lightning impulses, or lightning strike protections that can be applied after curing of the of the composite structure.
  - Additionally, they are interested in solutions that incorporate sensor technology or similar detection mechanisms, akin to pH paper, to detect such occurrences. If you possess a solution idea addressing either of these requirements, they encourage you to submit your proposal without hesitation.
Hitachi Energy Challenge
- Hitachi Energy is co-creating global and local solutions to solve the global challenge of an inclusive and equitable carbon-neutral future and that future is electrification. Hitachi Energy uses composites in different products for high voltage transmission such as transformers and its components.
- Challenge 3: Addressing Magnetic and Electric Shielding Complexity
  - At Hitachi, they tackle the challenge of magnetic and electric shielding by leveraging metals to control magnetic fields through shielding techniques. However, the complexity arises when these shields require intricate shapes. Thus, there is significant value in exploring composite materials or applying layers onto composites that possess the capability to manipulate magnetic/electric fields.
  - Moreover, metals are crucial for conducting high current electricity within materials. Consequently, they are keenly interested in exploring composite alternatives for efficient electricity conduction.
- Challenge 4: High voltages and Lightning impulses
  - In their applications, their composites are subjected to flashovers and lightning strikes. They seek composites capable of enduring high voltages and lightning impulses, or lightning strike protections that can be applied after curing of the of the composite structure.
  - Additionally, they are interested in solutions that incorporate sensor technology or similar detection mechanisms, akin to pH paper, to detect such occurrences. If you possess a solution idea addressing either of these requirements, they encourage you to submit your proposal without hesitation.

Benefits

For start-ups
- As a start-up active in the field of fiber composites, they place you in front of world-leading companies to solve industry challenges together. You will get the opportunity to:
  - Showcase your products & services
  - Prove your innovative power
  - Start funded proof-of-concept projects with industry partners
  - Get access to competence and testbeds
  - Create strong business relationships
  - Broaden your business network
  - Get direct access to experts at Saab and Hitachi Energy, their industry partners
For industry leaders
- Fiber composite carries the potential to dramatically improve a wide range of applications where traditional composites, metals, and other heavy materials have been dominant. But it must happen now. Collab aims to find innovative applications and usage from renewable and sustainable fiber composites. For example:
  - Develop new manufacturing methods
  - Apply fiber composite to new markets and areas of use
  - Improve composite quality and sustainability
  - Reduce the environmental impact of production
  - Partnerships with state-of-the-art start-ups
  - Boost time and cost efficiency in manufacturing.