Imagine a small, flexible factory that can 3D-print metal and plastic parts, laser-cut and weld them, and assemble electric bikes, cars, and battery packs — all under one roof. AVANGARD built exactly that: a microfactory combining three advanced production machines that work together like a well-rehearsed team. On top of that, they added a blockchain system to track every part and protect trade secrets across a network of factories in different countries. Think of it as the manufacturing equivalent of going from a big centralized kitchen to a chain of smart local kitchens that share recipes securely.
Manufacturing companies in Europe face a squeeze: they cannot match the gigafactory scale and speed of Asian competitors, especially in fast-growing sectors like urban electric vehicles. At the same time, managing IP and supply chain traceability across multiple production sites remains a costly headache. Small and mid-size manufacturers need a way to produce competitively at local scale while keeping their designs and processes secure.
AVANGARD built a microfactory integrating 3 advanced production units — robotized laser cutting-shaping-welding, supersonic metal powder 3D printing, and high-speed polymer 3D printing — and demonstrated them manufacturing electric bikes, cars, and battery packs. They also delivered a cloud-based cyber-physical production platform prototype and a hybrid public-private blockchain for IP and supply chain management.
If you are an EV startup struggling to compete with gigafactory-scale production in Asia — this project developed a microfactory concept that integrates robotized laser processing, supersonic metal 3D printing, and high-speed polymer printing to manufacture urban electric vehicles like I-Bikes and I-Cars. The approach lets you produce locally and flexibly without billion-euro factory investments.
If you are a component manufacturer dealing with slow turnaround on custom 3D metal parts — this project demonstrated supersonic deposition of metallic powders for high-speed 3D printing combined with robotized laser cutting, shaping, and welding for 3D components. This means faster prototyping and small-batch production of complex metal parts without traditional tooling.
If you are a contract manufacturer coordinating production across multiple EU sites and worried about IP leaks and traceability — this project built a hybrid public-private blockchain platform that tracks sources, verifies compliance, and protects sensitive data while enabling collaborative distributed manufacturing across 11 countries and 23 partners.
The project data does not disclose specific equipment or licensing costs. However, the microfactory concept is designed as a cost-effective alternative to large-scale gigafactories, targeting companies that cannot afford massive capital investment. Contact the consortium for pricing details.
AVANGARD demonstrated manufacturing of I-Bikes, I-Cars, and battery packs in a microfactory test bed with 3 integrated processing units. The Innovation Action funding scheme targets near-market technology. Based on available project data, the system was demonstrated at pilot scale with a cloud-based cyber-physical production platform.
The consortium of 23 partners across 11 countries includes 15 industry partners led by PRIMA INDUSTRIE SPA (Italy), a major industrial laser and machine tool company. IP is managed through their hybrid public-private blockchain platform. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with individual technology owners.
The project was designed to integrate 3 novel processing units into an existing microfactory test bed, which suggests the technology was built with integration in mind. The cloud-based platform connects cyber-physical production systems. Based on available project data, specific integration requirements would depend on your existing setup.
AVANGARD implemented a hybrid public-private blockchain where the public chain handles security through distributed consensus and the private sidechain handles speed and data privacy. This was developed with Ideas Forward PC, an SME specializing in blockchain commercialization. A cloud-based platform prototype was delivered as a demonstrable output.
The project ran for 3 years (2019-2022) and is now closed. The technologies have been demonstrated and the consortium includes 15 industry partners positioned to bring results to market. Based on available project data, deployment timeline would depend on the specific technology component and your production requirements.
The blockchain platform was specifically designed for compliance with data retention policies, auditability of sources, and traceability — all while keeping sensitive data stored in partner facilities. The project addressed IP rights management and supply chain transparency across 11 EU and associated countries.
This is a heavyweight industrial consortium with 23 partners across 11 countries and a striking 65% industry ratio — well above typical EU projects. The coordinator, PRIMA INDUSTRIE SPA, is a major Italian industrial laser and sheet metal machinery manufacturer (publicly traded), which signals serious commercial intent. With 15 industry players and 8 SMEs alongside 5 universities and 3 research organizations, the balance tilts heavily toward market application rather than academic exploration. The geographic spread across Western and Southern Europe plus Israel suggests a well-connected manufacturing network ready for distributed production.
PRIMA INDUSTRIE SPA (Italy) — a publicly listed company, contact via their corporate website or through SciTransfer
Want an introduction to the AVANGARD team for licensing their microfactory technology or blockchain platform? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right consortium partner for your needs.
