The XaRFA, financed by the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalonia, with 26 research groups from 14 Catalan entities, was created with the aim of creating up to 12 technology-based companies and promoting the transfer of 3D printing technologies to the society
The network has been created to represent this sector of innovation in 3D printing in Catalonia and become an international benchmark thanks to the recent progress achieved by some of its members in collaboration with international groups and companies. The XaRFA brings together the most relevant research groups in the different areas of specialization in additive manufacturing. In this way, the development of additive manufacturing and its applications in society is expanded.
The XaRFA project, with a duration of three years, will culminate with the XaRFA 2 MaRKET program. The goal is to identify and accelerate up to 12 spin-offs in the field of 3D printing. Consequently, it is intended to create more than a hundred jobs directly in the next five years. To do this, four programs will be carried out:
- The first program focuses on the organization, monitoring and evaluation of the activities and results of the project, as well as guaranteeing gender equality.
- The second program aims to continuously and internationally identify and promote the technological results of XaRFA members that can be transferred to the industrial fabric through meetings and events.
- The third program concentrates on the formation and training of XaRFA members in the activities necessary to be able to commercialize a technology.
- Finally, the XaRFA 2 Market program aims to select and accelerate XaRFA’s most promising additive manufacturing technologies.
All these initiatives aim to improve the transfer, valorization and internationalization of the research developed by the Catalan R+D+I fabric. The XaRFA will help increase the number of registered patents and the number of technology-based companies created with the participation of network researchers.
The organization is led by CIM UPC, a leader in advanced production technologies and is made up of a total of 26 groups from 14 institutions in Catalonia: IQS, UB, UAB, IBEC, LEITAT, EURECAT, UdG, CIMNE, UPC, FSJD, UVic-UCC, IGTP, FI3PT and CIM UPC.
