Project “Air2030”: Cooperation between Swissmem and SyncFab to simplify the processing of offset businesses
This is a translation of an article, originally published by Swissmem on 25/01/2021.
The manufacturer of the new Swiss Army warplane and anti-aircraft system has to compensate 60 respectively 100 percent of the investment sum by countertrade transactions with Swiss companies. This offers SMEs in particular the opportunity to qualify as suppliers to large foreign companies in the long term. To simplify this process, Swissmem and SyncFab are establishing a partnership. This will give Swiss industrial companies access to SyncFab’s digital, blockchain-based online matchmaking platform. The latter opens up secure, simple and cost-effective access to the services offered by major manufacturers. This online platform is open to all suppliers with existing and future offset commitments, as well as to all Swiss industrial companies. Lockheed-Martin has already been won as a partner for the pilot phase. The SyncFab platform will later be extended to other areas of application in industry.
For Swiss industry, countertrade deals in the context of defense procurements (so-called offsets) offer the opportunity to participate in the development of new technologies and to sustainably qualify as a supplier for large, foreign companies. Swissmem has always advocated that the purchase of armaments should be compensated as extensively as possible by offset transactions. With the purchase of the new fighter aircraft and the ground-based air defense system (Air2030 project), the next major procurement orders will be coming up soon.
In the past, it was very difficult, especially for SMEs, to qualify as suppliers to large foreign manufacturers (so-called OEMs). To facilitate access to OEMs, Swissmem is entering into a cooperation with the Californian company SyncFab. SyncFab operates a blockchain-based matchmaking platform that successfully brings together companies from the machinery and electronics industry with OEMs from the aerospace, automotive, defense, medical technology, renewable energy and electronics sectors in the USA.
The digital platform of SyncFab provides Swiss industrial companies with secure, simple, efficient and cost-effective access to the offerings of the major OEMs. In this way, Swissmem wants to ensure that as many industrial firms as possible — especially SMEs and companies from French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino — can participate in the Air2030 offset deals. Swissmem and SyncFab have invited all suppliers of the new fighter aircraft to use the platform to find Swiss offset partners. Lockheed-Martin has already been signed up as a partner for the pilot phase. On the Swiss side, some Swissmem member companies are part of the pilot phase. After that, the platform will be open to all interested Swiss industrial companies to apply for offset business.
Content expansion planned
Swissmem is convinced that the SyncFab platform will make an important contribution to the successful involvement of Swiss industry in the upcoming major defense procurements. However, the platform is not to be limited to offset businesses. In the future, it will be open to other fields of activity in industry in order to provide easier access to the global supply chains of large foreign companies. This will give SMEs in particular the chance to showcase their strengths and innovative power to the corporations of the world.
Comments on the partnership:
Jeremy Goodwin, CEO SyncFab: “I am delighted and honored to welcome Swissmem as a new partner. This strategic partnership extends the use of our blockchain-based application for secure, automated and digitally-enabled supply chains to Europe for the first time. Swissmem members will benefit from our experience with NTMA, Swissmem’s U.S. counterpart, as well as major U.S. systems houses in the aerospace and defense sector.”
Stefan Brupbacher, Director Swissmem: “Innovation, precision and agility of our companies can be played out with SyncFab’s technology initially in the defense and afterwards as well in other industrial sectors. In this way, we help Swiss SMEs to conquer the world with their products even better, cheaper and faster”.
About SyncFab:
SyncFab was founded close to Silicon Valley, where it remains headquartered today. SyncFab operates a digital manufacturing platform that streamlines the way OEM hardware supply chain buyers securely source, manage and track the production of precision parts using blockchain technology. SyncFab is employee-owned. A minority stake is held by Starburst Aerospace Innovation Group.
About Swissmem:
Swissmem is the leading association for SMEs and large companies in the Swiss mechanical, electrical and metal industries (MEM industries) and related technology-oriented sectors. Swissmem promotes the national and international competitiveness of its approximately 1,200 member companies through effective representation of interests, needs-based services, targeted networking, as well as training and continuing education of employees in the MEM industry in line with the labor market.
For further information, please contact:
Ivo Zimmermann, Head of Communication
Phone +41 44 384 48 50 / Mobile +41 79 580 04 84
E-mail i.zimmermann@swissmem.ch
Philippe Cordonier, Responsable Suisse romande
Phone +41 21 613 35 85 / Mobile +41 79 644 46 77
E-mail p.cordonier@swissmem.ch
