Italian construction company seeks innovative laying techniques for sloped surfaces in dams and reservoirs to optimize processes and reduce waste

Summary

An Italian company with international presence, active in building & construction is looking for start-ups or scale-ups offering innovative techniques, at minimum TRL 4, for laying materials (modified bitumen and agglomerates) on sloped surfaces of dams and reservoirs, to optimize the process and reduce waste. Partners will work together in co-development, experiment and pilot projects under technical cooperation agreement. This request is part of an open innovation challenges programme.

Description

An Italian building & construction company is active as a general contractor for clients both in the public and private sector. The company has been active in the Italian and international markets for almost 40 years using expertise, technological innovations and self-patented development solutions; they operate in various sectors, e.g.: constructions, infrastructures, hydraulics and water treatment, environment.

The company specializes in the waterproofing of dams and reservoirs; in this context, they have patented a new technique of restoration of existing asphalt dams and reservoirs, which consists of the application of modified bitumen and selected aggregates using a machine specially designed and built by the company. This machine is designed to allow the laying of the materials (modified bitumen and agglomerates) on the sloped surfaces of dams and reservoirs, which is an important difficulty.

The Italian company is looking for new solutions and disruptive techniques to improve the current bitumen laying process on these difficult sloped surfaces of dams and reservoirs, which could optimize the process and reduce waste.

The company is interested in collaborating with start-ups or scale-ups, from all over the world, to co-develop proof of concepts, experimental and laboratory projects or pilot projects, under technical cooperation agreement.

--- IMPORTANT: This technical cooperation request refers to an open innovation challenges program published on a separate online platform (b2match). If an organization expresses interest before the program closing date, it will be guided towards the open innovation platform.

During registration, interested organizations will be asked to select the challenge that corresponds with this technology request profile. If admitted to the programme, start-ups and scale-ups will benefit from training and will be able to create their (presentation) profile to connect with the companies in order to organize 1to1 matchmaking meetings.

The company will select the organisations that they would like to meet for the development of the solution.

The challenge closes on November the 30th 2021. Once the challenge is closed, expressions of Interest for this technology request will be treated in the traditional way.

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought

The Italian company is looking for innovative laying techniques of materials (modified bitumen and agglomerates) on sloped surfaces of dams and reservoirs, to optimize the process and reduce waste. The solution searched can be both a mechanical improvement and a smart digitalization of the process. The solution sought should have a minimum TRL 4 - Component and/or breadboard validation in a laboratory environment - or higher.

Contact/ source: Enterprise Europe Network (europa.eu)