Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS): International Conference in Bern
Bern, 24.04.2008 - At the beginning of 2008 Switzerland took over the chairmanship of the international R&D programme ‘Intelligent Manufacturing Systems’ (IMS). The first IMS conference under Swiss chairmanship is currently under way in Bern, where about 80 researchers and representatives of international cutting-edge technology industries are meeting.
The conference is focussing on the development of clean, efficient, and eco-friendly production methods for next generation manufacturing. In workshops, researchers from IMS member regions will tackle the topics of sustainability, energy efficiency, standardisation in globalisation, key technologies, and education. These topics are also the focal point of the newly developed cutting-edge technology programme (Manufacturing Technology Programme MTP). The goal is for researchers and leaders in research and development to establish firm commitments to collaborate. Results of the workshops will be announced during the closing afternoon session.
IMS is an industry-oriented international R&D initiative that facilitates research in advanced manufacturing through international cooperation. IMS is the world’s only government-supported multilateral international programme for manufacturing research and development. To date, it has provided over USD 600 million to research. It was established in order to provide a framework for cooperative R&D to share costs, risks, and expertise, leading to improved production processes, increased competitiveness, and technological breakthroughs via market driven R&D. This type of international cooperation is necessary to meet the challenges of providing goods manufactured in a sustainable, eco-friendly manner for global consumption, and thus to contribute to sustainable productivity growth.
Switzerland is a founding member of this initiative and has held the chair since the start of 2008. The chairman is Professor Claudio Boër, head of the Institute for Applied Computer Sciences and Industrial Manufacturing at the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). The interregional secretariat which coordinates the activities of the IMS member regions of the European Union, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and the USA is located in Bern. The Swiss delegation to the IMS steering committee is led by Olivier Carnal, of Georg Fischer AG. The Swiss government is represented by the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET).
Address for enquiries
Dan Nagy, Program Director IMS, Tel. +41 79 837 29 00
Christoph Ebell, International Relations OPET, Tel. +41 79 819 22 74
Links
Publisher
Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET) - as of 1.1.2013 SERI
http://www.bbt.admin.ch/
