In April the kick-off took place of the Lighthouse 1 project as part of the Interreg “Manufacturing Next Materials”. Here, TPAC and CATO are working together on the production of thermoplastic composite applications. This collaboration is set up to specifically help SMEs with the conversion and professionalization of the manufacturability of these applications. This not only offers benefits in terms of product development but also for future recycling possibilities. By using thermoplastic composites, products can be recycled more easily, contributing to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The Manufacturing Next Materials (MNM) program is an European initiative focused on scaling prototypes to test production of smart and sustainable components. The project supports SMEs in the Germany-Netherlands border region in processing materials for mobility, battery systems, and energy solutions.

A common problem is that after the prototype phase, government support often stops, making it difficult for SMEs to scale up to a higher development level. MNM creates 40 cross-border scaling projects for 60 SMEs, aiming to scale up to this TRL6-TRL8 level. The project organizes three Lighthouse pilot innovation environments, workshops, and matchmaking sessions to support 120 SMEs from 2024 to 2027. Collaboration between Dutch and German SMEs is required.