1. Successful Science-Industry projects MINANO Finland/Mexico (coordinators) Mika Paajanen, Chief research scientist,.Sc.(Tech), Functional polymers, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

2. Background Minano Project resulted from the Mexico-EU Coordinated call – Theme Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production Technologies (NMP) NMP-FP7-2010-1.2-5 Adding Value to Mining at Nanostructure level VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland overall coordinator as R&D Center Peñoles - the second largest mining company in Mexico, producer of high-quatlity nanoparticles coordinator of the Mexican partners

3. Project goal Goal: Develop a mass production method for the Mg(OH) 2, ZnO ja Ag nanoparticles and produce plastic and wood-plastic nanocomposites utilizing the nanoparticles Duration: 10/2010-9/2013 Type of supporting funding scheme: EU/CONACYT

4. Company insertion process? How + by whom was the company introduced to this project opportunity? In first stage the project opportunity was suggested by VTT to Peñoles. What were the principal incentives/arguments to try to join the consortium? VTT (EU) and Peñoles (Mexico) wanted to be the coordinators, because the initial ideas of the project were planned together

5. Company insertion process? What were the crucial factors for deciding to join? The opportunity to work with a producer of high- quatlity nanoparticles (Peñoles) What were the major difficulties in joining the consortium? The major difficulty was to find a correct mining company and contact person from that company in Mexico Were the benefits & costs of joining the project, clear to the company (at insertion)? The funding was only available for Mexico/EU cooperation

6. Consortium structure Leader of the project (company or R&D inst?) The overall coordinator VTT is a R&D centre The coordinator of the Mexican partners is the second largest mining company in Mexico

7. Consortium structure Companies and R&D institutions participating: VTT, R&D centre, Finland, 961,493 Peñoles, industry, Mexico, 612,167 DTU, university, Denmark, 351,200 CIQA, R&D centre, Mexico, 313,499 CIMAV, R&D centre, Mexico, 330,999 SOFTER, industry, Italy, 435,410 UASLP, university, Mexico, 116,556 SOVERE, industry, Italy, 366,864 Owens corning, industry, Mexico/Brazil, 147,000/ 115,520

8. Consortium structure Any specific role that the company plays compared to the academic partners? Peñoles massproduces nanoparticles and their chemical functionalization process SOFTER developes plastic products with functionalities enhanced by the nanoparticles SOVERE developes wood-plastic composites with functionalities enhanced by the nanoparticles Owens Corning produces building materials utilizing the functional nanocomposites

9. IPR management How was the sharing of results agreed between participants? We have a Consortium agreement and the rules of EU Grant Agreement Was there a consortium agreement between partners? YES Was there any cause for problems in this respect? Yes, it has taken a lot of time to receive signatures to the CA and GA

10. Obstacles identified Highlight the least positive factors of collaboration process since the consortiums set up, till the end of the project. Difficulty to receive response to email Difficulty to get in touch by phone or by any other mean Difficulty to find the person who takes responsibility

11. Obstacles identified Highlight the least positive factors of collaboration process since the consortiums set up, till the end of the project. Difficulty to receive response to email Difficulty to get in touch by any mean Highlight what aspects could be improved in the respective S&T system in order to foster more successful science industry projects. Create similar template-supported fundamental documents and guides for the project preparation as in EU for LA as well

12. Critical factors of success Highlight the critical factors of success beyond the project, namely: Previous history of collaboration between partners? There was previous collaboration between the Mexican partners themselves, and between SOFTER and SOVERE in Europe No other previous collaboration Technical and financial balanced consortium? The work between the Mexican and European partners is quite well balanced and supporting each other External consultancy support or internal expertise on project management? Support from the EU team within VTT Clear IPR management? Support from the EU team within VTT

13. Ex-post recommendations? Given the companys past or ongoing experience in the project, what recommendations could you propose for increased future private company partnering in these kind of projects? 1.Provide mutual funding opportunities for cooperation 2.Demand cooperation as a prerequisite for funding, but do not make conditions too high, e.g. one partner from each region could be a start 3.Support the private companies only, if R&D centres or universities are involved in the consortium (they usually are more dedicated for finding funding)

14. Mika Paajanen Chief research scientist, D.Sc.(Tech) Functional polymers VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland