Torino 26-28 03 2007

1. Nena Project – 3rd Team MeetingWP5: Analysis of potentials, synergie and feasibility of cooperation between Alpine clusters and enterprisesRegione Piemonte Torino 26-28 03 2007

2. Domotics in question • Domotics can be defined as: • the integrated management of all the flows (information, energy, people, objects) crossing the house, together with • the remote control of such flows through ICT, hence • connecting the dwelling space with other spaces of daily life (working place, public transportation, car…). • As a consequence, Domotics is a multifaceted notion concerning all the aspects of contemporary habitat: • confort • safety and security • energy saving

3. Given the complexity of Domotics and its nature of system integration, it is impossibile to get an exhaustive quantification of firms and workers engaged in a Domotic system. This depends on: • the broad number of sectors and specialisation involved in a domotic system • the lack of statistical categories which can be directly referred to Domotics • Hence, we had to adopt a different strategy for our WP5: • defining in general terms the Domotics’ value chain (VC) • contextualising the result in Piedmont’s manufacturing system

4. Electric plant and wiring Household electric ICT Network (mobile phone and internet) Vertical Domotic System Domotics’ value chain (Vertical approach): theory Components Consumers

5. Domotics’ value chain (Vertical approach): practice • Identification and implementation of a Vertical Domotic System in Piedmont are influenced both by the regional manufacturing structure and by global manufacturing trends: • components: global supply chain (GSC) • electric plant and wiring: GSC versus regional specialisation in safety and security plants and telecommunication systems • household electric: GSC versus weak local producers • ICT network: presence of the main mobile phone networks, with limits to their embeddedness • consumers: limited possibilities for a mass market

6. As a first conclusion, we can claim that the possibilities for developing vertically – from components suppliers to consumers – a Piedmont’s Domotic System are limited, as: • the value chain is dominated by global players, large vertically integrated Transnational Corporations • Piedmont’s domotic firms have a different background with reference to their main competitors: while Domotics in Piedmont is mainly rooted in ICT and safety and security, emerging Domotic systems have been usually related to electric equipments and plants production • some parts of the domotic value chain are almost completely missing in Piedmont (household electric) while others seem to have an uncertain future in the regional economy (telecommunication networks) Hence, the possibility for a Piedmont’s Domotics has to be found elsewhere

7. Design Electric plant and wiring Safety and security Household electric ICT ICT Network (mobile phone and internet) Robotics and automation Domotics’ value chain (Horizontal approach): theory Biobuilding and passive housing Building materials and components Access infrastructures (doors, locks etc.) Habitat system Domotic system Innovation system Horizontal Domotic System

8. Domotics’ value chain (Horizontal approach): practice If we move from a vertical to a horizontal perspective, in terms of integration among Domotics, habitat system and regional innovation system, we can highlight some possibilities for success Potential horizontal linkages connect Domotics with sectors and specialisations which have a long tradition in Piedmont regional economy

9. Domotics’ value chain: practice Habitat system In Piedmont there are traditional clusters and districts: faucets in Verbano Cusio Ossola, locks and armoured doors (Torino), design sensitive manufacturers of hi-tech materials -plastic and rubber panels- in Cuneo Such productions might get new competitiveness by integrating with ICT and electronic into a complex domotic system Regional Innovation System Number of firms covering a huge range of specialised niches and innovative frontiers. Both the sectors related to the history of Piedmont’s domotics – like ICT and safety and security – and those less related – such as design or robotics – are mainly business-to-business Domotics might represent a chance for introducing sophisticated technologies into consumer application

10. Domotics in Piedmont: a SWOT analysis • Strenght: • highly specialised manufacturing firms in TLC and alarmed anti-intrusion systems • presence of the main mobile phone networks, with special reference to their R&D facilities • specific competences in ITC (Torino Wireless and Ismb) and environmental technologies (Envipark) • Weakness: • absence of domotic global players with reference to electric equipment and household electric • uncertainty about the future localisation of TLC facilities • Threats: • huge investments required, which can be afforded by global players only • incapability to push domotics towards global customised mass consumption • Opportunities: • the presence of many leader firms operating in markets which might be horizontally linked to domotics, easening technology transfer • developing system integration capabilities • the emergence of new specialistic niches

11. Domotics’ value chain: scenarios As a consequence Piedmont’s domotics can get increasing competitiveness only if it assumes a pivotal role in integratingdifferent technological and productive realms, bringing together mature traditional Italian specialisation in luxury consumer goods with hi-tech transfer from edge business-to-business niches This perspective is consistent with the role Piedmont can assume within NENA partnership, that is integrating bio-building competencies and energy-saving technologies to the household scale, thanks to its peculiar knowledge about both stylish household materials and equipment and sophisticated ICT technologies

12. Domotics plays a pivotal role of integrating competencies We can identify 4 scenarios : sustainable domotics: with reference to the issues of bio-building, domotics can be employed both for increasing and monitoring the performance of the house in terms of sustainability socio-domotics: as social sustainability – assistance, safety, accessibility etc. – is becoming more and more important, domotics can work out as a tool to make services more accessible for the elderly and/or ill people safety and security domotics: as safety and security in public spaces are becoming a key sector in contemporary global economy, there is large room for their adaptation to civil and consumer applications food and domotics: the issue of food traceability through ICT technologies might be extended to the whole food value chain, from production to consumption, through packaging, logistic and storage

13. WP 5 - Working group • Regione Piemonte • Departnent of Research and Innovation • Department of Territorial Planning • Department of Environment and Building construction • MKTP Territorial Marketing • University of Torino • Faculty of Economics • ISMB – Istituto Superiore Mario Boella • Institute of Advanced Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer in ICT • Environment Park • Ordine degli Architetti – Order of Architects of Piedmont • Collegio costruttori • Torino “World Design Capital 2008” • SMEs • Project Engineering • Industrial Design • Prototyping • Building Automation • Energy and Energy Saving • Household appliances

14. Thank you for your attention!