Center of Excellence for Furniture – Transylvanian Furniture Cluster

Started

October 17, 2022

Completed:

February 29, 2024

The “Cluster Mobilier Transilvan” Association, as the representative entity of the cluster with the same name, CLUSTER MOBILIER TRANSILVAN, has developed the Center of Excellence for Furniture (CEF) project, a unique national initiative aimed at becoming a center of excellence for the entire value chain and promoting industrial transformation.

The project is funded through the Operational Programme Competitiveness 2014-2020, Action 1.1.1 Large R&D infrastructures, has a duration of 14 months, and a total project value of lei 59,488,155.79, of which the non-reimbursable financial assistance is lei 29,777,965.80.

The interested partners in this phase of the project are: ANTARES ROMANIA SRL, E-LABORATOR FEERIA SRL, TESAGON SRL, SERBAN & ASSOCIATII SRL, BASIC POINT SRL, and HYGIA CONSULT SRL.

The development of the Center of Excellence in the Furniture Industry aims to provide services and develop products that will lead to increased competitiveness for industry manufacturers, addressing identified needs, namely: reducing existing technological gaps compared to developed countries, the lack of RDI (Research & Development & Innovation) infrastructures, and the limited capacity of traditional manufacturers to adapt to digitalization, the biological aging of specialized personnel, the lack of interest for this sector among young people, and the lack of specialized professional training programs, as well as the need to develop international relationships and partnerships that facilitates the exchange of experiences and entering external markets.

The Center of Excellence for Furniture (CEF) positions itself as a project that facilitates access to sources of information and business opportunities, supports formal and informal education, attracts financial resources, develops training programs, and fosters the development of international relationships, both for the implementation of major projects and for easier access to markets.

General objective:

The general objective of the project is to strengthen the position of the Transylvanian Furniture Cluster – an innovative cluster of European interest, by developing and operationalizing the first Center of Excellence for Furniture (CEF) in Romania by the end of 2023.

Specific objectives:

The establishment and equipping of the Center of Excellence for Furniture (CEF) as a complex research-development infrastructure composed of 9 laboratories (including a “Future Factory” type facility) for the development of R&D materials and solutions, prototyping, testing, and preparing for the market launch of products resulting from previous R&D activities, within 24 months of project implementation.
The development and market launch of 2 complex packages of research-development-innovation support services for cluster members aimed at developing new high value-added products and services, as well as acquiring specialized competencies in “knowledge management” (K2T&S), by the end of the project implementation period.
Establishing a personnel structure aimed at the optimal exploitation of the cluster and for carrying out all activities planned during the project implementation period, consisting of the Cluster Activity Coordination Department, Cluster Promotion Department & Business Services Provision, Transnational Cooperation Department, and Cluster Facilities Management Department.
Co-publication of 6 scientific articles that translate the obtained results from research-development activities, by the end of the sustainability period.
Strengthening the cluster by attracting 2 new research-development entities and 6 new enterprises, by the end of the implementation period.
Attracting a number of 16 enterprises to the joint use of the research-development infrastructure created through the project, by the end of the sustainability period.

Activity: 1. Building a Center of Excellence for Furniture – CEF

Activity: 2. Acquisition of tangible and intangible assets necessary for the Center of Excellence for Furniture – CEF

Activity: 3. Exploitation of the Transylvanian Furniture Cluster

Activity: 4. Leasing land and usage during the project implementation period

Activity: 5. Conducting field studies for the CEF objective

Activity: 6. Developing a feasibility study, documentation for approvals, technical project, and verification

Activity: 7. Specific activities related to the State Inspectorate for Construction and for obtaining the building permit

Activity: 8. Specific activities for site organization

Activity: 9. Conducting project management and financial audit activities

Activity: 10. Promotional and advertising activities

Activity: 11. Providing technical assistance and site supervision during the execution of works

Activity: 12. Certification of energy performance and energy audit of CEF

ACTIVITIES

Establishment and equipping of CEF as complex research-development infrastructure composed of:
- 8 laboratories;
- 1 presentation center;
- 1 R&D “Future Factory” type facility.
The development and use of 3 proprietary applications: marketplace, virtual showroom, and virtual solution for participation in events/trade fairs, using technologies such as “virtual reality” (VR), “augmented reality” (AR), and “mixed reality” (MR).
Establishing a personnel structure for the optimal exploitation of the cluster and the execution of all activities planned during the project implementation period, consisting of: Cluster Exploitation Activity Coordination Department, Cluster Promotion Department & Business Services Provision, Transnational Cooperation Department, and Cluster Facilities Management Department;
Participation in at least 78 national and international events to exploit the cluster;
Organization of at least 8 national and international events to increase the visibility of the cluster and facilitate the development of new business relationships for attending members;
Organization of at least 4 economic missions to facilitate access to new markets for cluster members in target markets: USA, Canada, Egypt, and South Africa;
Hosting at least 2 delegations composed of international partners who will participate in activities aimed at exchanging experiences with partners in Romania;
Participation in specialized fairs at the national and international level to ensure the visibility of the cluster and its members;
Running promotional and advertising campaigns for the cluster at both national and international levels to increase the cluster’s visibility, attract new members, collaborators, and partners, while ensuring the promotion and communication of activities organized within the cluster.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in the activities of producers, but with significant relevance for end consumers as well.
Development of unique products that do not yet exist in the local market, represented by smart furniture that combines technology with traditional products.
Adapting the principles of the circular economy, which addresses the need to reduce the negative effects of climate change, by obtaining advantages related to the more efficient use of resources.
Improving the presentation and sale methods by transposing products into the virtual environment using VR, AR, and MR solutions.

EFFECTS

The investment activities address the identified issues through the effective development of modern infrastructure, as well as through actions related to the development of new collaborative projects, specialized marketing actions and promotional campaigns, internationalization efforts, or the organization and facilitation of training programs at the cluster level.

IMPACT (estimated)