SusProNet launch conference

[martin charter <101336.3560@compuserve.com>]

EXCUSE ANY CROSS-POSTINGS

CALL FOR PAPERS

Launch conference of the EU-funded Thematic Network on Sustainable
Product-Services (SusProNet)
                
Sustainable Product-Service-Systems: 'state of the art'
1st international conference
5th-6th June 2003
De Roed Hoed
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
        
A SusProNet conference organised by The Centre for Sustainable Design
                
For more information see www.suspronet.org or
www.cfsd.org.uk/events/suspronet
                

Introduction
                
Leading-edge companies are now starting to integrate services into the
solutions development process, whilst others are 'adding value' through,
for example, various types of after-sales services, maintenance or
training. These companies are recognising that the addition of services to
products may drive innovative customer-focused solutions which
differentiate from competitors especailly in saturated markets. This means
that product development is changing, as in reality many intangible
services now include physical products and visa versa which means that many
solutions now include varying proportions of products or services. Some
term this Product-Service-Systems (PSS) and the main categories can be
defined as:

* Product-oriented services eg service integration (adding products or
functionality), product extension (providing upgrades,maintenance)
* Utility-oriented service (product owned by the service provider who sells
the function not the product) eg leasing and rental
* Result-oriented service eg product  substituting service (eg virtual
answering service replacing answering machine, web-based information
replacing directories), vertical integration (eg production transferred to
user)
                
Throughout the nineties there has been considerable discussion that PSS
leads to sustainability benefits (financial, social and environmental) -
however, this is still unclear due to a lack of research and concrete
examples. Against this background, seven research institutes (TNO-STB,
VITO, INETI, econcept, CfSD, TNO Industry/Kathalys, and O2 Global Network)
and some 25 companies took the initiative to set up a Thematic Network in
this field, called SusProNet (www.suspronet.org). SusProNet has been funded
by the
European Commision (EC) to explore and help define the 'state of the art'
in PSS and will organise two
major conferences in 2003 and 2004 to increase networking and knowledge in
this area.  SusProNet serves also as the central node in a project cluster
in which six other major EU-funded projects on PSS participate.
                
Conference
                
SusProNet  will be launched at a prestigeous two day international
conference that and will bring together leading-edge thinkers and
practioners to discuss the 'state in the art' of PSS. The event will
include a range of invited speakers from business, government and academia
and will also include a refereed section that will include high quality
papers covering new PSS research and thinking. There will also be
presentations of company best practice and facilitated workshops related to
five core areas covered in SusProNet: information and communications
technologies; offices; materials and chemicals; food and health; and
households. Finally, the conference will be used as a platform to present
the key ongoing EU-funded research projects in this field.
                
Abstracts
                
Abstracts are invited new research and thinking Product-Service-Systems
(PSS) creation, development and implementation. Papers should address one
or more of the following five themes:
                
* PSS development in networks of firms
* Methodologies and tools for individual firms
* Support infrastructure
* The relation between PSS and sustainability
* Policy dimensions
                
Please send abstracts of 800-1000 words focused on the topic of PSS to
rwhite@surrart.ac.uk by 17th March. On receipt, abstracts will be sent to
the conference Advisory Board for review and successful authors will be
advised by early April. A presentation at the event will be required but
written papers will not be needed.
                
Fees
                
The conference is free of charge.

Registration

Places are limited - so it is recommended that only those seriously
interested in attending should register. To register please send full
contact details to rwhite@surrart.ac.uk

Contacts
                
For more information:
                
Professor Martin Charter, Director, The Centre for Sustainable Design     
mcharter@surrart.ac.uk
Dr Arnold Tukker, Project Manager, SusProNet                    
tukker@stb.tno.nl

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