Syntex: Partners

	PROFACTOR is doing research in innovative and knowledge based methods of production. Currently 80 academic scientists from all technical fields are employed. The machine vision group of Profactor has gathered extensive experience in machine vision, mainly inspection of textured surfaces, and process automation. The group has been and is currently coordinating a number of multinational research projects in this field (ActiPret, Eco2Painter, MultiSens, DynaVis). In the field of machine vision Profactor is working on algorithm development for texture analysis, synthesis and classification.
	The University of Groningen (RUG) has more than 100,000 graduates since its inception in 1614. With students and staff coming not only from the Netherlands but also from at least 90 other countries, RUG is truly international. RUG’s has recently invested heavily in a new Neuroimaging Centre, with imaging modalities such as EEG and a 3T fMRI facility. This centre provides exclusive research capacities to cognitive neuroscientists. RUG will participate through the Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology (LEO) and the NeuroImaging Centre of the School for Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN-NIC), both of which are internationally well-known research institutions.
	Affective engineering and design has been since 2001 (and still is) a strategic area of development within the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds. Between 2003 and today we have carried out both a number of industrially funded case studies and funded research in tactile perception of surfaces.Within Leeds we have set up an Affective Design Research Group, with main collaboration between ourselves (Mechanical Engineering), Colour Chemistry (psycho-physics of colour perceptions), Psychology (human factors) and Linguistics (use of language in self-report studies). We have developed a laboratory facility in collaboration with the Department of Psychology.
	Prodintec is a non-profit Foundation whose aim is to improve competitiveness of its clients by means of design and production related technologies. Prodintec is specialized in Industrial or Product Design as a creative, technical multidisciplinary and systematic approach; Manufacturing (innovative technologies applied to production and processes); and R&D Management: tools and methodologies to achieve goals with maximum efficiency. Currently 20 persons, mainly engineers work at Prodintec. Prodintec will contribute expertise in rapid prototyping, 3D scanning of complex surfaces, CAM, and micro-milling technologies. Prodintec participates in several national and international R&D projects.
	The Department of Knowledge-Based Mathematical Systems of the Johannes Kepler University of Linz (JKU) has a long tradition in basic research in fuzzy logic, which was extended in during the past ten years to applied research, in signal and image processing, system identification, modelling, machine learning, fault detection, and controlling. The approaches include knowledge-based and data-driven modelling techniques with fuzzy systems, (fuzzy) decision trees, and also statistical methods. The department has two locations, Linz and Hagenberg, where industrial and research projects in cooperation with various industrial and institutional partners are concentrated.
	The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an academic institution engaged in higher level education and research. It is one of the largest universities of the Netherlands with 20,000 students in all fields, covering medicine, humanistic, scientific, and technological areas. UvA will participate in the project through the ISIS group, which consists of 22 persons. The main research activities are in multimodal human-computer interaction, cognitive vision, annotation of and retrieval from images and video data repositories, data space visualization, theory of computer vision, color and color invariants in computer vision, and multimedia data mining.
	FUNDERMAX was formed from the merger of two companies: FUNDER, a traditional company in the field of timber materials, and ISOMAX, a specialist in decorative laminates. FUNDER manufactures high-quality and exceptionally durable surfaces with melamine resin impregnated decor papers. Around 350 designs are currently available in the widest possible range of different surfaces. ISOMAX is one of the world's key manufacturers of laminates and is the second largest manufacturer worldwide of compact panels for high-stress interior design and exterior applications.