The strategic needs of the European plastics and composites industry took centre stage at the 2016 annual meeting of the European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform (ECP4, Brussels / Belgium; www.ecp4.eu), held in Guimarães / Portugal on 18 May. Co-organised by PIEP – Pólo de Inovação em Engenharia de Polímeros (Guimarães; www.piep.pt) of Minho University, the meeting’s participants discussed the strategic research agenda outlined at their 2015 meeting (see Plasteurope.com of 09.06.2015) and focussing on the future competitiveness of Europe, the continent’s role as a leading technical innovator, increased investment, higher employment rates and the challenges posed by the circular economy.

Funding by the European Union is “essential” to the industry, ECP4 president Clement de Meersman said, adding that “the automotive, medicine, pharma and building sectors cannot exist without the added value of the plastics and composites sector.”

At the meeting, José-Lorenzo Vallés, who heads the Advanced Manufacturing Systems and Biotechnologies Unit at the European Commission’s Research and Innovation Directorate General, said the European plastics industry is a global leader, adding that the sector will help Europe meet its 2020 goals for sustainability and energy efficiency. The EC representative called on the industry to double its investment in R&D as well as innovation.

Also speaking at the event was Mats Linder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (Cowes, Isle of Wight / UK; www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org). He invited ECP4 members to join the “New Plastics Economy Initiative”, which was launched in London / UK on 25 May with an inaugural workshop including 40 leading industry giants. Since its release in January this year, the foundation’s study on “The New Plastics Economy” has become a virtual guidebook for many industry players (see Plasteurope.com of 09.02.2016).

Founded in 2011, ECP4 is comprised of 18 research centres, three European associations as well as four regional clusters.