From technological promise to international collaborative project

1. The question behind the questionFor organizations with international ambitions, opportunities often arise within European grant programs, but only when ideas are translated into strong collaborative projects. In the development of 3D metal printing technology, the challenge lay in a crucial step of the production process: the post-processing of printed metal parts. This step was still time-consuming and costly, meaning the technology did not yet offer a full alternative to traditional production methods for sectors such as the maritime industry. The question was therefore not only technical in nature, but strategic: how can international partners jointly develop an innovation that accelerates the process and makes it economically viable?  

2. The route we chose — Accelerating with a European consortium To realize this ambition, a European collaboration was chosen within the INTERREG 2 Seas program. An international consortium was formed together with parties such as Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, RDM Makerspace, TNO, Hittech, and partners in Belgium and England. In this phase, we helped translate shared ambitions into a promising European project that aligned with both the partners' growth strategy and European grant priorities. This not only created a project but also a collaboration that formed the basis for further international innovation.  
‍
3. The translation European funding requires sharp choices and clear collaboration. Therefore, the focus was on developing a strong and coherent project plan. We supported in structuring the consortium, formulating the shared objectives, and translating technical challenges into a convincing project proposal. A multi-year approach was developed, logically connecting innovation, collaboration, and impact. Through this translation, European funding became not just a standalone opportunity, but a strategic step in the further development of the technology.  

4. From vision to acceleration The result was a successful European innovation project with a grant of over €2 million from the INTERREG 2 Seas program. Within the project, international partners collaborated on integrating 3D metal printing with a flexible post-processing step. The goal was clear: 50% reduction in lead time 30% reduction in production costs This innovation made it possible to apply 3D metal printing more broadly, including for industrial and maritime applications.  
‍
5. The Plus on the project What made this collaboration successful was the combination of strategy, collaboration, and content. We brought international partners together around a shared ambition. We translated strategic goals into a promising European project. We helped build a consortium that can continue to collaborate in the long term. Thus, European funding became not a one-time opportunity, but a foundation for further international innovation and growth.