Strategic Action Line LI5: Innovative Production Processes

The objective of this chapter is to describe the strategic action line related to innovative production processes (LI5). In particular, this chapter proposes research and innovation priorities across various aspects both related to conventional and non-conventional processes, such as: digitization of conventional production processes in order to improve their interactions and handle different types of processing, even by means of hybrid processes; the growing role of additive manufacturing and its ensuing challenges in terms of both design and production; processing of standard and innovative materials, or materials with meso/macro geometries, including also nano- and micro-manufacturing. In addition, process innovation also needs to take the shape of innovation in support of re- and de-manufacturing processes, to start with, through to the development of bio-inspired transformation models.