Advisory Board

ASCER (the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association) was founded in 1977 and currently has approximately 135 members. ASCER includes and represents practically all Spain’s ceramic tile manufacturers. Production and exports within the sector by non-member companies – mostly small business using traditional production methods - represent less than 3% of the total. ASCER also has collaboration agreements with Harvard Graduate School of Design, the University of Darmstadt in Germany, and the School of Architecture of the University of Liverpool, helping ASCER to strengthen its connections with the world of teaching in the architecture sector at international level.

CET was founded at 20 Feb 1959, in Brussels (Belgium), as Common Market Group of Ceramic Tile Producers. Its present name was adopted in 1991. CET is a member of Cerame-Unie and has members in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the UK, which represent the majority of EU production in ceramic tiles. Amongst its aims CET is to study jointly the problems that the application of EC/EU rules poses to the producers providing further solutions to their problems and needs, while representing the interest of this industrial sector to European Community/ European Union institutions.

The Bavarian Research Alliance GmbH (BayFOR) is a private company whose purpose is to support Bavaria as a centre for science and innovation within the European Research Area. It was set up at the end of 2006 on the initiative of the Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences to strengthen their networking at regional, national and international level and help them prepare to meet the requirements for European research funding. To achieve this, BayFOR supports and advises Bavarian scientists and private sector stakeholders in the competition for regional, national and European research, development and innovation funding. The focus is directed at the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020”. As a partner in the network for SMEs “Enterprise Europe Network”, BayFOR provides specific advice for SMEs which are interested in EU research and innovation projects. BayFOR is a partner institution in the Bavarian Research and Innovation Agency (www.research-innovation-bavaria.de) and is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts. For further information please visit www.bayfor.org/english.

Among their services the following are included: Lobbying activities – strategic positioning of ideas, General and call-specific expert advice on EU funding schemes, Support for the entire application process, Assistance in the search for cooperation partners (Bavarian/European/international), Assistance with project implementation, Project management and dissemination/communication.

EBETAM A.E. (MIRTEC S.A). - Materials Industrial Research and Technology Development Centre, is a technological Center, active in Applied Research, Technological Development, Certification and Quality Control in a wide range of materials and products. EBETAM A.E. (MIRTEC S.A) is the only Hellenic Certification Body with own Laboratories for testing and analysis of materials and products. This enables our capabilities of offering integrated solutions to our clients. The systematic collaboration and communication with high respected Technological Centres, Institutes, Universities and Industries give us a strong competitive advantage. Their Services include: Laboratory Testing, Audits & Inspections, Human Resources Development, Production Capabilities, Technical Studies, Health and Safety at Work, Certification (Product Certification, Systems Certification, Persons Certification, Inspections for Construction). MIRTEC has considerable expertise in a wide range of advanced ceramic materials and the company holds several patents. During long course of professional and research activity, the company has accumulated precious knowledge and experience and produces in pilot scale several innovative ceramic products with tailor made properties for EU and USA market.

Argos is a multinational company that produces and markets cement and ready mix concrete through its operations in Colombia, the United States, Central America and the Caribbean. In the cement industry, Argos is the leader in Colombia and the fourth largest in the southeast of the United States. It has 7 plants in Colombia, 4 in the United States, 1 in Honduras and 1 in Puerto Rico. 9 clinker mills located in the United States, Colombia, Haiti, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, French Guiana, and Surinam, and 33 ports and terminals for receipt and packaging. Its total installed capacity is 23 million tons of cement per year. In the concrete business, Argos is the market leader in Colombia and the second largest producer in the United States. It has 344 plants located in Colombia, the United States, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Its total installed capacity is 18 million cubic meters of concrete per year. The Argos business model focuses on the client and on value generation to its group of interest.

Postnova Analytics is a dynamic and innovative company with a very focused mission: We want to solve the analytical problems of our customers embracing the following values and guidelines: i. Advanced Analytical Products: (Postnova always and only offers high quality products, offers the newest and most innovative technologies available, and chooses leading manufacturers as supply partners), ii. Powerful Product Portfolio (Postnova has formed a complete product portfolio (systems, supplies, services), offering complete solutions from one source with high expertise) and iii. Strong Customer Support (highly qualified customer support team, always looking for long term partnerships with our customers, while providing the ultimate solution to make customers successful: Quality & Support)

Cerame-Unie represents the European ceramic industry. Their mission is to ensure that the voice of this competitive, dynamic, and innovative industry is heard at the EU level. Membership is drawn from the national ceramics associations across Europe with whom we work to provide solutions to challenges affecting both the industry and wider Europe, in fields such as: environment, health, and safety; climate change and energy; trade and internal market; construction and sustainability; research and innovation; raw materials; and standardisation. Cerame-Unie was founded in 1962 as an “association de fait” based in Brussels. It was registered as an International Non-Profit Association (AISBL) in 2010. It is an umbrella organisation representing the European ceramic industry structured in nine sectors. The Cerame-Unie team holds the secretariat of both the umbrella association and seven of its sectors. The eighth sector (expanded clay - EXCA) is located in Brussels, Belgium and the ninth sector (porcelain enamel - EEA) is based in Hagen, Germany.

PULSAR Consulting is part of the PULSAR Group. With over 80 partners, employees, and associates, the PULSAR Group is a comprehensive consulting group consisting of management consulting, business development advisory and auditing-/tax consulting. Within the group, PULSAR Consulting delivers best practice solutions for organisational efficiency, market-driven corporate management, strategic financial management, tax, legal and auditing consulting services. It is the consultancy and process implementation partner for sustainable company development. Additional services are provided by the PULSAR Development International. The PULSAR group member company is a specialized international business advisory firm focusing on projects in Africa, Middle-east and Asia.