OASIS · Project

One-Stop Shop Giving SMEs Access to 12 Pilot Lines for Lightweight Composite Manufacturing

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Imagine you run a small company and you've got an idea for a lighter, stronger car part or building panel — but you'd need millions in lab equipment to even test it. OASIS built a network of 12 ready-to-use production lines across Europe where you can walk in, get expert help, and manufacture your nano-enhanced composite product without buying any of that equipment yourself. Think of it like a shared commercial kitchen, but for advanced materials — polymer composites, aluminium composites, coatings with nano-scale features. They even threw in business coaching and help finding investors, all through a single helpdesk so you don't have to figure out which lab to call.

By the numbers

pilot lines for industrial production of nano-enabled products

industrial showcases validated at TRL6-7

6-12

democases selected via open call for SME demonstration

consortium partners across 7 countries

European countries represented in the consortium

SME partners in the consortium

Key Enabling Technologies integrated (nanotechnologies, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing)

The business problem

What needed solving

Many SMEs and mid-size manufacturers have product ideas that require advanced lightweight composites with nano-enhanced properties — but building the specialized production infrastructure costs millions and requires expertise across nanotechnology, advanced materials, and manufacturing processes simultaneously. Without access to pilot-scale production lines, these companies cannot validate their products or produce them in low-to-medium volumes, leaving a gap between lab prototypes and commercial products.

The solution

What was built

A network of 12 pilot lines for manufacturing nano-enabled lightweight composites (polymer-matrix and aluminium), accessible through a single helpdesk entry point. Concrete deliverables include demonstration parts from 6 industrial showcases in construction, automotive, energy, and aeronautics at TRL6-7, plus complementary services covering modeling, characterization, toxicology, life cycle assessment, business coaching, and access to private capital.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive component SMEs developing lighter parts for EVs or emissions complianceConstruction materials companies creating multifunctional lightweight panelsAerospace component suppliers needing nano-enhanced composite parts in small volumesEnergy sector manufacturers developing lightweight composite housings or structural elementsAny SME with a nano-composite product idea that needs pilot-scale manufacturing without capital investment

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive components

SME

Target: Tier 2-3 automotive parts suppliers looking to reduce vehicle weight

If you are an automotive parts supplier dealing with pressure to reduce component weight for EV range or emissions targets — this project built 12 pilot lines validated at TRL6-7 where you can manufacture nano-enabled lightweight composite parts without investing in your own production infrastructure. The 6 industrial showcases included automotive applications, and the single-entry helpdesk guides you from initial request to delivery.

Construction materials

mid-size

Target: Building materials manufacturers seeking lighter, multifunctional panels

If you are a construction materials company struggling to develop lighter panels or structural elements with added functionality like thermal or fire resistance — OASIS demonstrated lightweight composite products for the construction sector at TRL6-7. You can access their 12 pilot lines for pre-production or low-to-medium volume manufacturing, plus toxicology and life cycle assessment services to meet building regulations.

Aerospace and energy

any

Target: Component manufacturers serving aerospace or energy OEMs

If you are a component manufacturer needing to produce nano-enabled lightweight parts for aerospace or energy applications but lack the specialized equipment — OASIS offers modular access to 12 pilot lines covering nanoscale structures, intermediate products, and finished nano-enabled components. Their 6 industrial showcases validated products in the aeronautic and energy sectors at TRL6-7, and business innovation coaching helps you build the commercial case.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does it cost to use the OASIS pilot lines?

The project data does not specify exact service pricing. The model is designed so companies — particularly SMEs — can access unique facilities and knowledge without high capital investment. Contact the coordinator through the OASIS helpdesk for current pricing of specific services.

Can these pilot lines handle industrial-scale production volumes?

The 12 pilot lines are designed for pre-production and low-to-medium volume industrial production of nano-enabled products. The 6 industrial showcases validated products at TRL6-7, which means near-industrial scale. For high-volume mass production, you would likely need to transition to your own manufacturing line based on the validated process.

Who owns the IP if I develop a product using OASIS facilities?

Based on available project data, the OASIS Open Innovation Test Bed provides manufacturing services and business coaching — it functions as a service platform. IP arrangements would need to be clarified directly with the coordinator, but the model is structured as a service to companies, not a joint development program.

Is the platform still operational after the project ended in 2022?

The project explicitly aimed to set up an economically sustainable open innovation structure. The helpdesk and single-entry point were established as deliverables. Check the project website at project-oasis.eu for current availability, as sustainably operated test beds typically continue beyond EU funding.

What types of materials and products can I manufacture?

The pilot lines cover polymer-matrix composites and aluminium composites with nanoscale features. Services span from nanoscale structures in unprocessed form, through intermediate products with nanoscale features, to finished nano-enabled products. Complementary services include modeling, characterization, toxicology assessment, and life cycle assessment.

Do I need to be an EU-based company to access services?

The project primarily targets European companies, particularly SMEs, with its 21-partner consortium spanning 7 countries. The 6-12 democases were selected via an open call. Based on available project data, eligibility for non-EU companies is not specified — contact the helpdesk for clarification.

What regulatory and safety testing is included?

OASIS includes toxicology and life cycle assessment as part of its modular service offering. This means you can get safety and environmental impact data alongside your manufacturing — critical for regulatory approval in construction, automotive, and aerospace sectors where nano-enabled materials face scrutiny.

Consortium

Who built it

OASIS brings together 21 partners from 7 countries with a strong industry lean — 11 industry partners (52% ratio) and 6 SMEs, complemented by 5 research organizations and 2 universities. The coordinator is Fundación Tecnalia (Spain), one of Europe's largest applied research centers. The geographic spread across Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Netherlands, and Poland gives good coverage of European manufacturing hubs. For a business looking to use this platform, the high industry ratio and SME presence signal that the consortium was built for commercial delivery, not just academic research. The mix of countries also means pilot lines are distributed across Europe, potentially reducing logistics barriers for companies in different regions.

FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONCoordinator · ES
ASOCIACION ESPANOLA DE NORMALIZACIONparticipant · ES
SISTEPLANT SLparticipant · ES
PLEIONE ANONYMI ETAIRIA KAINOTOMONENERGEIAKON EFARMOGONparticipant · EL
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
ADAMANT AERODIASTIMIKES EFARMOGES ETAIREIA PERIORISMENIS EFTHYNISparticipant · EL
FORD-WERKE GMBHparticipant · DE
CENTRE TECHNIQUE INDUSTRIEL DE LA PLASTURGIE ET DES COMPOSITESparticipant · FR
ALFRED-WEGENER-INSTITUT HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR POLAR- UND MEERESFORSCHUNGparticipant · DE
VDL FIBERTECH INDUSTRIES BVparticipant · NL
AIRBUS OPERATIONS SLparticipant · ES
AMIRES THE BUSINESS INNOVATION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE ZUparticipant · CZ
UNIVERSIDAD DE CASTILLA - LA MANCHAparticipant · ES
OCTANTIS TECNALIA GROUP, SLUparticipant · ES
BLUMORPHOparticipant · FR
THALESparticipant · FR
PANEPISTIMIO PATRONparticipant · EL
ACCIONA CONSTRUCCION SAparticipant · ES
AMIRES SROparticipant · CZ

How to reach the team

Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation (Spain) — use the OASIS helpdesk at project-oasis.eu as the single entry point for service inquiries

Order a report on this consortium See FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to find out if OASIS pilot lines can manufacture your lightweight composite product? SciTransfer can assess your use case, check current service availability, and arrange an introduction to the right pilot line — contact us for a free initial assessment.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0