FROM DESIGN TO LIFE-CYCLE APPROACHES: THE EU PERSPECTIVE

摘要

European industry is faced today with many challenges to remain competitive in an increasingly complex environment, characterized mainly by the word "globalisation". The speed of innovation, pushed by the consolidation of the Information and Communication Society, and the rapid uptake of new technologies, such as nanotechnology, is counterbalanced by the growing cost of high level research. The societal role of industry is being recognised, in particular regarding sustainable development and the ethical and social consequences of economic and technological evolution, notably considering human resources and employment prospects. These challenges force European industries to evolve, modernising their manufacturing approaches, i.e. working much more in networks, and adapting their structure, strengthening links between research and innovation, increasing added value of products, production and services, and of course decreasing their environmental impacts. This can be characterised by a transition from resource-based to knowledge-based organisations. For this evolution to occur, breakthrough research in the design field is becoming a key and unavoidable issue.