Advanced Manufacturing technologies are often adoptable by relatively traditional sectors. However, they often need ready and competent workers. And when they do have a high level of technical skills, workers often lack capacities for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial approach to use such technologies. These are required capacities if the capital (tools, machine) is to be exploited to the maximum of its potential.
Creative industries are core elements of the EU economy. Creative workers are talented and flexible with a range of core capacities that can be developed and improved naturally via practice and lifelong learning. Creative enterprises are usually small, often micro. They work with clients in sectors that have been traditionally connected to creative industries for some time. using flexibility to add value to products by applying their ability to realize innovative ideas.
ACCESS-3DP is a transnational project funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union. The project aims at taking Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) as a new, disruptive technology under the umbrella of Advanced Manufacturing in order to set out frameworks to train and upskill workers in the craft and creative industries.
It is implemented by 5 different organisations in France, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain:
- Chamber of Craft Auvergne Rhône Alpes- Lyon, Rhône (CMA AURA) / France
- Technical Research Centre of Furniture and Wood of the Region of Murcia (CETEM) / Spain
- Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP) / Portugal
- Technical University of Kosice (TUKE) / Slovakia
- Styrian Technology Park (STP) / Slovenia
This Consortium takes 3DP technology as an example of a new, disruptive industry and set out frameworks that can become the basis to train workers within the craft and creative industries. Workers will then be ready to apply their new skills in conjunction with their creative core capacities in one or more traditional manufacturing sectors.
ACCESS-3DP two-and-a-half project (from Oct 2020 to March 2023) has four main outputs:
IO1. Report on how VET providers can innovate and interconnect creative and traditional-craft industries (C-TCIs) through 3D printing.
IO2. 3DP C-TCIs Joint Curriculum.
IO3. Learning Modules development and integration via innovative and intuitive MOOC (Massive Open On-line Course) platform integrating fundamental 3D- Printing.
IO4. Pilot validation and mainstream of the innovative tools for the interconnection of C-TICs through 3D Printing.
