Introduction
ZEPHYR is a cooperative research project funded under FP7 that successfully developed a new, zero-impact technology for the pre-cultivation of plants and trees in a sustainable controlled environment where ornamental, medicinal and other valuable plants can grow, starting from the seeds, in an automated nursery assistant. Tests on the prototype built by the Consortium confirmed the competitive advantages of the ZEPHYR technology and a potential wide market application, both in Europe and overseas, for renaturing cities, green infrastructures and urban horticulture. Now the ZEPHYR project with a new Consortium is approaching the industrial implementation phase , including the application to a Fast Track to Innovation project funded by the European Commission through the Horizon 2020 programme. A vacancy in the consortium has opened for an industrial partner established in an EU Member State or Associated State, able to implement an industrial production of the ZEPHYR prototype in cooperation with the other partners.
Information about the ZEPHYR prototype can be found in this website, particularly in the sections “Project Outcome” and “Deliverables”
Specific tasks to be performed:
a) Analysis of the existing prototype (mechanical parts) and study for a scaling-up solution and its related production’s costs
b) Active participation in the development of the industrial strategy to bring the ZEPHYR technology to the market.
Estimated funding for the above tasks: up to €800.000, depending on the level of involvement and subjected to the approval of the ZEPHYR2 implementation project
The selected industrial partner will also have a 10 years’ EXCLUSIVE MANUFACTURING AGREEMENT, meaning that he shall be the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of the ZEPHYR mechanical parts that will be listed in a specific written memorandums signed by the Consortium partners
Deadline: The expression of interest for the selection must be sent no later than 8th of April 2016 at 17h00 (Brussels time) via email to: [email protected] (Request for clarifications: +32 497 794 867 - from 10.00 to 17.00 CET time, up to the deadline)
The expression of interest should contain:
1) Contact details of the applicant (address, email and phone of the contact person for the application)
2) Short profile- max. one A4 page- of the company, clearly showing the capability of an industrial production of machineries like the ZEPHYR prototype (the insertion in a container and the solar power is NOT requested by this call)
3) (optional) Preliminary description - max. one A4 page- of how such study and production will be carried out, on the basis of the company’s experience and skills
Pre-selected applicants will be contacted within 5 working days from the date of their application (first applications will be first processed). The selection will terminate on 15th of April 2016.