ANNUAL REPORT 2017

Although successful progress has been made to date, it will only be sustainable over time provided we maintain a critical and non-conformist attitude that serves as a motivation to embrace a continuous improvement process. As a result, we defined and analysed our strategic 2017-2020 approaches against the backdrop of their market potential and pursuant to the business model established with the other 24 collaborating entities of IK4-TEKNIKER: · Advanced manufacturing using laser as the main tool for stock removal, processing, additive manufacturing and developing production systems and components. · Automation and robotics, with special emphasis on collaborative robotics in the industrial environment, developing specific solutions (like “bin picking”, for instance). · Surface scaling to be understood as a complete industrialisation of functional layers previously consolidated in the laboratory. · Developing sensors, ranging from the physical measuring principle to the industrial product and how it is incorporated to data management platforms. · Maintenance 4.0, based on integrating knowledge related to the behaviour of components, equipment and systems; with hardware connected to machines that provides a bridge between sensors/ machines and platform signals in the cloud for date storage and exploitation, including predictive and prescriptive analytics. But in addition to these new approaches, we remain firmly committed to reaching out to the market more and better. Consequently, we have intensified our efforts aimed at getting in touch with the market by focusing on the following: · A specific “e-commerce” and “inbound marketing” strategy to transfer R&D capacities. · Preferentially reaching out to SMEs and micro SMEs through specific policies and by supporting regional economic development agencies. · Reinforcing and extending the scope of the KAM (“Key Account Manager”), to have a greater impact on our customer companies by improving our emotional relationship. · Reinforcing the activities of our managers when dealing with Sectorial Offers and Industrial Solutions. · Exploiting our Technological Assets, i.e., knowing about mature solutions that can be transferred into the market immediately (TRLs 8-9) and better management actions to make the most of their intellectual property. In summary, 2017 was a good fiscal year that provided that served as an excellent starting point to further our impact and improve our level of service to the customer. These and other actions have enabled us to increase our R&D figures to just over €23.4 million. INDEX 01 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 02 REPORT BY THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT 03 MARKET MANAGEMENT 04 TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT 05 THE VOICE OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND COLLABORATORS 06 REVENUES AND BOOK BALANCE 07 COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS & GOVERNING BOARD 08 IK4 RESEARCH ALLIANCE