Digital Innovation Hubs

DIH Profile

3IF.be & 3IF.be Fieldlab

Hub Information

Hub Name
3IF.be & 3IF.be Fieldlab
Local Name
3IF.be & 3IF.be proeftuin
Evolutionary Stage
Fully operational
Geographical Scope
European

Description

3IF.be is the intiative in Belgium to support the digital transformation of manufacturing companies into Industrie 4.0, Industrial Internet and Industrial IoT. The platform connects manufacturers in different industries (process and discrete manufacturing), Digital Platform providers, IoT technology providers, connectivity and system integrators and advisory. Our role is to support the industry as a whole and to foster the development of the market, facilitate collaboration and drive the interest of the industry. We work together with research facilities such as KU Leuven, IMEC, Flanders Make, Flanders Food and SIrris in Flanders. We operate a fieldlab on Condition Based Maintenance and we are a partner of the Industrial Internet Consortium, the Industrial Data Space Association, the regional (Flanders) Industrie 4.0 initiative (https://www.industrie40.vlaanderen/), AIOTI, ECSO and we are an executive partner for Security guidance in the Connected Factories CSA coordinated by EFFRA for the Factories of the Future projects in Europe and the European Commission Connected Factories activities (https://www.effra.eu/connectedfactories), . 

Flanders Industry 4.0 strives to become a leader in new technologies and concepts in industry 4.0 such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics, cybersecurity and other innovations. In so doing, it can strengthen its competitiveness and maintain prosperity in a rapidly changing world. (https://www.vlaanderen.be/nl/publicaties/detail/vision-2050)

3IF.be supports manufacturing and related companies in Europe, but mainly in Flanders in successfully managing the digital transformation. On the basis of experiences and methodologies, companies are being guided with advice and support in selection of technologies and processes towards the utlization of digital technologies throughout the production and supporting processes. The 3IF.be fieldlabs support this with practical implementations of demonstrators and use cases, amongsts other for condition based maintenance. 

3IF.be is a non-profit initiative, part of the non profit organization lsec.eu, with a physical presence in Belgium - Leuven - Heverlee and Brussels. Details of our activities can be found at http://www.3if.be

3IF is aligned with, and supports the smart specialisation strategies according to the S3 priorities in Flanders (http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/regions/BE2/tags/BE2) of specialised manufacturing solutions, innovative work organization and smart systems. 3IF.be operates as a neutral entity, but supports different SME technology companies such as VersaSense, Factry, AllThingsTalk, Yazzoom, Cresent - Cloudgate, Factorythings and many others. 

3IF.eu operates multiple fieldlabs on Condition Based and Predictive Maintenance and Industrial Data Space.

3IF.eu has supported digital transformation of many organizations, including Reynaers Aluminium, Engie, Suez, Dymo, Ontex, Ordina, ... 

 

3IF.be is het Vlaamse platform dat Industrie 4.0 en digitale transformatie voor productiebedrijven in Vlaanderen ondersteunt. 

Bedrijven worden geïnformeerd en begeleid over de mogelijkheden van digitale technologiëen voor hun industrie. Dat gebeurt zowel op management - business-vlak, bij de vorming van mensen (industrie 4.0-opleiding en drivers license), het kiezen en toepassen van digitale platformen (management en coördinatie-platformen van systemen), integraties met bestaande omgevingen en installeren van Industrial IoT of ontwikkelen van specifieke interfaces. 

3IF.be ondersteunt de Vlaamse bedrijven actief bij het vinden van financieringsmogelijkheden voor de begeleiding van het digitaliseringsproces. 

3IF.be beschikt over technologie om proof of concept cases te installeren, te integreren en te demonstreren om op die manier de hele organisatie naar een volgend niveau te tillen. 

3IF.be is een non-profit initiatief vanwege LSEC en Sirris, dat wordt gesteund door de Vlaamse overheid. 

 

Contact Data

Coordinator (Industry association)
LSEC - Leaders In Security
http://www.lsec.eu
Year Established
2002
Location
Kasteelpark 10, 3001, Heverlee (Belgium)
Website
http://www.3if.be
Social Media
Contact information
Seldeslachts Ulrich
ulrich@3If.be
+3216328541
Contact information
Innovation Support
innovationsupport@3If.be
+3216328541

Organisation

Organizational form
(Part of) Private organization
Turnover
1.000.000-5.000.000
Number of employees
10-25

Technologies

  • Sensory systems
  • Communication networks
  • Cyber physical systems
  • Internet of things
  • Cyber security
  • Advanced, or high performance computing
  • Big data, data analytics, data handling
  • Virtual, augmented and extended reality
  • Simulation, modelling and digital twins
  • Software as a service and service architectures
  • Cloud computing
  • Logistics
  • Internet services
  • New media technologies

The 3IF.be fieldlab is part of the Flanders Industrie 4.0 fieldlab initiative supporting S3 and industrie 4.0 developments in the region. it is one of the 7 fieldlabs that were accepted at the end of 2017, specifically addressing the need from manufacturing companies in the region to receive more practical support by installing IIoT proof of concept cases and connecting some partners to an Industrial Data Space. 

Flanders Industry 4.0 strives to become a leader in new technologies and concepts in industry 4.0 such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics, cybersecurity and other innovations (RIS3 smart specialisation strategy). In so doing, it can strengthen its competitiveness and maintain prosperity in a rapidly changing world. (https://www.vlaanderen.be/nl/publicaties/detail/vision-2050)

3IF.eu and 3IF.be are part of regional (Flanders) Industrie 4.0 initiative (https://www.industrie40.vlaanderen/) and the European Commission Connected Factories activities (https://www.effra.eu/connectedfactories).

In the H2020 CSA Connected Factories (H2020-Fof-11), 3IF.be plays an active role in developing the security framework for digital manufacturing platforms. As a result, 3IF.be is an interesting partner for H2020-ICT01-2019, H2020-ICT08-2019, and other actions in the domain of smart manufacturing, due to it close relations with industry end users and current field trials open for further innovative approaches. 

In Flanders, 3IF.be will support manufacturing companies actively seeking mechanisms to fund their innovative developments such as through the VLAIO subsidy platform (https://www.vlaio.be/nl/subsidies-financiering/kmo-groeisubsidie).

 

Market and Services

Sectors

  • Energy and utilities
  • Construction
  • Community, social and personal service activities
  • Manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco
  • Manufacture of textiles and textile products
  • Manufacture of leather and leather products
  • Manufacture of wood and wood products
  • Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper products; publishing and printing
  • Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel
  • Manufacture of chemicals, chemical products and man-made fibres
  • Manufacture of rubber and plastic products
  • Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products
  • Manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products
  • Manufacture of machinery and equipment
  • Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment
  • Manufacture of transport equipment
  • Other Manufacturing

TRL Focus

  • TRL6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment
  • TRL7 - System prototype demonstration in an operational environment
  • TRL8 - Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration
  • TRL9 - Actual system proven through successful mission operations

Services provided

  • Awareness creation
  • Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
  • Visioning and Strategy Development for Businesses
  • Collaborative Research
  • Concept validation and prototyping
  • Testing and validation
  • Digital Maturity Assessment
  • Incubator/accelerator support
  • Market intelligence
  • Mentoring
  • Education and skills development
  • Other

Service Examples

On Site Field Lab Setup

a) Client Profile : production company in the field of water pumps, creating pump installations, performing integration and maintenance. 

b) Client Need : looking for solution for service digitization and additional supporting technologies for IoT, digital platforms and cloud integration

c) Solution The 3IF.be fieldlab provided an onsite installation of IIoT equipment that aims to provide a non-intrusive Proof of Concept, mainly aimed towards Condition Based Maintenance. The captured data is being visualized immediately and can serve for an onsite or cloud installation, followed by data analytics and indications for improvements. The setup is using existing tools and equipment, can also integrate with existing industrial equipment. It is in the first place intended to watch over equipment and assets which are not directly in line, but do also need additional maintenance. Providing insights on why machines break down, give a first level of indication on what can be done with these technologies. After the field lab setup, the technologies can stay on site, or additional proof of concepts can be setup - on the basis of the strategic quick scan and further deepening the results.

More details: http://www.3if.be

Digital Transformation Quick Scan

a) Client Profile : the company is a division in Flanders of a large international pretrochemical consorium. It provides cool fluids and other derivatives to various customer profiles.

b) Client Need : trying to understand potential for digital transformation cases internally, where to further optimize the current activities and processes and how to further seek new opportunities

c) Solutoin : the quick scans support the various manufacturing teams to identify and assess potential digital transformation use cases. They serve as a first high level scoping, and listing out a number of projects. This list will be quickly debated and checked on the basis of technical infrastructure, competencies and capabilities. Some guidance will be given towards use cases, business model and technology references. The quick scan will results in a short formalized report, with some recommendations. These recommendations can lead to further deepended analysis. The report will also support the definition of one or more proof of concept cases for a fieldlab on site.

More details: http://www.3if.be

Industrie 4.0 inhouse training

a) Client Profile : the company is an international producer of automative supplies, mainly to large car manufacturers. Digitalization is taking place on all levels of the company, in order to optimize all processes toward their customers, suppliers and partners. 

b) Client Need : the current workforce tries to understand the bigger picture, since digitalisation is confronted to them on all different levels. Both management and workforce need to be further informed, people need to understand how to apply digitalization in their own departments and activities. 

c) Solution : The 3IF.be Industrie 4.0 inhouse training has been education over 100 industrie professionals in 2017, moving towards digital transformation leaders within their organisations. We've adapted the course trainings into an onsite Industrie 4.0 training to allow the mastering of digital transformation throughout the organization. The company can subsequently follow additional more in depth courses, or can start offering their own inhouse training for basic skill levels. A dedicated team was set up to support all digital transformation actions. 

More details: https://www.3if.be/nl/events/142-2018-04-11-12-industrie-4-0-training-gent-course-2-advanced-concepts-2-dagen

Funding

  • Horizon 2020
  • COSME
  • Regional funding
  • Private funding
  • Partner resources
  • Memberships
  • Other

Partners

Last updated: 08/08/18 09:58