We expect DEFACTO (to) boost a smarter and more ecological transport system. – Interview with Sustainable Innovations

Ana I. Martinez, from Sustainable Innovations (SIE) speaks on this interview about their main role in the DEFACTO project, their expectations and the work they will carry out to ensure the successful communication, dissemination and exploitation of the project results.

Q: What is the main role of Sustainable Innovations (SIE) in DEFACTO?

A: Sustainable Innovations (SIE) is leader for the tasks related to the communication and dissemination of the project, the knowledge transfer, training and capacity building activities, as well as for the market assessment and exploitation plan of the project results.

In addition, we work very closely to our partner UNE – Asociación Española de Normalización, who is in charge for the standardization activities of the project. The appropriate implementation of the dissemination, capacity building and standardization activities will ultimately lead to a set of established protocols, processes and procedures for the prototyping, characterisation and modelling of cells for electric vehicles. This will set up the route for further research in modelling and simulation and, if feasible, the commercial exploitation of results.

Q: What are your expectations from the project?

A: We expect the work of the DEFACTO consortium to take the research and innovation processes on cell development a step further, optimizing their design and functionality, and increasing the competitiveness of the European industry of electric vehicles. We hope this will boost a smarter and more ecological transport system that meets the growing mobility needs of the society, while reducing carbon emissions and increasing energy efficiency.

Q: Can you describe the work Sustainable Innovations (SIE) is planning to do in this project?

A: Sustainable Innovations (SIE) is working since the start of the project to ensure that the findings and results of DEFACTO are widely communicated to the relevant stakeholders. We are responsible for the communication plan, as well as for coordinating all the multi-platform communication and dissemination activities, such as the elaboration of promotional materials, the creation and update of the project website, the management of the social media networks, the launch of the newsletter, etc. At the earliest stages of the project, we designed its visual guidelines and identity, establishing a series of guidelines to be followed in all the communication materials. We set up the project’s website and the social media channels, which we have since then kept updated with a constant flow of information and news.

In spite of the effect that the COVID-19 restrictions have had on our attendance to face-to-face events, we managed to carry out a successful dissemination of the project via online webinars and workshops. This was only possible thanks to the great collaboration and proactivity of the partners in the consortium!

At a later stage in the project, we will lead the capacity building and training activities of the project, developing guidelines for the stakeholders through the whole value chain with the aim to ensure that the DEFACTO outcomes can be replicated across Europe.

Last, but not least, we are responsible for the market assessment of the technology developed by DEFACTO, as well as for the exploitation of the results, which we expect will help to accelerate the electric vehicles industry in Europe. The exploitation activities of the project will ensure the elaboration of adequate protocols to establish a common fast development and adoption process for new generation cells that can be leveraged by the industry.