The past decades have seen the emergence of business ecosystems. Their historic evolution is important, as ecosystems are deemed new business models to progressively replace the old ones. Ecosystems are broadly and vaguely defined in literature review, where they represent new network business models. Empirical data about European project calls show precise definitions of ecosystem types and activities that are subject to European project funding calls. These definitions apply to new commercial entities recently created and funded by such European project calls. The chapter aims to build theory with a case study about emerging business practices with high instrumental value to other businesses, which may apply for European project calls. The methodology is a descriptive case study. Findings are the level of detail and focus on business practices exceed that of general and vague theory, thereby allowing business practice to contribute to theory and enrich it. Definitions of ecosystem entities and ecosystems management activities to be used across the European Union are this addition.

The paper presents a CNC component manufacturing process using the WAAM process. The study depicts all the execution steps of a component from the CAD drawing, deposition procedure (technological parameters, times, layers, etc.), examination, and economic calculation. The manufacturing of this component using WAAM is more advantageous given the fact that the execution time and delivery are significantly shorter, mainly when a single piece is required and also when discussing the raw material used, usually expensive titanium alloys. For example, for Ti-6AI-V used in the aircraft industry, for which the material price is about 90 Euro/kg, the costs for obtaining a given component using the WAAM process will be about 497 Euro/piece compared to 1657 Euro/piece when using another manufacturing process, as it is shown in this paper. In conclusion, additive manufacturing can easily become a feasible solution for several industrial applications when it replaces a classic manufacturing process of a single component or replacement products, even simple-shaped.