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SmartSteel Innovation Challenge
Finding ideas to create a unique fingerprint-like identifier that makes tracing of steel products like plate, strip and tube possible throughout the steel refining value chain all the way to the end product.
"The Spinverse Innovation Challenge concept is clear and well designed. Another success factor is the network of Spinverse and ability to reach and attract participants."
Niko Korte, Senior Manager, Digital Business Development
26
participants
7
finalists
2
winners
Key numbers
Finding ideas to create a unique fingerprint-like identifier for steel product tracing
The SmartSteel Challenge was launched in September 2018 as part of the SmartSteel project, initiated within the Swedish national strategic innovation programs PiiA and Metallic Materials. Companies and research groups of all sizes were encouraged to apply and both ambitious out-of-the-box ideas to more mature solutions were welcomed.
How we reached the goals
Spinverse helped in defining a clear scope for the challenge together with SSAB and Sandvik Materials Technology, opened the call and managed the proposal submission system. Spinverse activated potential participants from an extensive contact network, pre-ranked the submissions and hosted a workshop for SSAB and Sandvik to select the best matches for their specific scope.
Spinverse also organised coaching meetings with the selected seven finalists together with SSAB and Sandvik technical experts. Spinverse then organised pitch coaching to ensure the finalists’ presentations involved all the right elements to convince the SmartSteel jury in the Pitching Day.
Key takeaways
The SmartSteel Challenge culminated in the Pitching Day event, in which the finalists were invited to pitch their ideas in Stockholm in December 2018. Finalists came from South Africa, Sweden, Germany and Finland. Spinverse assisted in organizing the Pitching Day event and facilitated the schedule and flow of the event. The jury selected two winners, who both came up with ideas on how to trace steel products by using the material’s own characteristics. The winning teams were Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM from Germany and Luleå University of Technology from Sweden.
Mattias Klockars, Head of Strategic Research Labs at Sandvik Materials Technology, commented on the winning ideas: “These are both exciting research ideas that can be developed in coming projects. I am over all extremely impressed with all the finalist contributions.” The goal of SSAB and Sandvik is to build long-term collaboration with the winners.
About the project
The LIFE Lit4Nature aims to establish a stronger, evidence-based system for biodiversity conservation and restoration across Lithuania. Major focus will be placed on strengthening the national biodiversity monitoring system, improving data collection and integration and on introducing innovative monitoring approaches to support evidence-based conservation and restoration decisions.
Impact of the project:
The project aims to boost stronger biodiversity and ecosystem recovery across Lithuania through nationwide conservation and restoration. Further, it wants to achieve better national coordination for efficient and well targeted conservation measures and their funding.
Funding instrument LIFE Programme
Spinverse’s role
Spinverse experts supported the coordinator throughout the two-stage LIFE Strategic Nature Project application process from concept note development to submitting the final proposal.
The support included workshops that brought together the proposal team to sharpen the project concept and focus the application on the most relevant and critical aspects of Lithuania's
Prioritised Action Framework for Natura 2000 and the forthcoming National Restoration Plan.
Spinverse’s strategic guidance, hands-on support and thorough quality reviews helped us focus on the critical aspects, strengthen the proposal logic and present its impacts convincingly. Their LIFE expertise gave our team confidence and contributed significantly to the proposal’s high quality and successful funding outcome.”
Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
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