This note is intended to provide advance information on the likely shape and content of the Work Programmes for FP7. This information is indicative only. As we are still in the FP7 adoption process with the potential for changes at Commission and
Member State level, researchers are advised to wait until Work Programmes are published before beginning to prepare concrete project proposals. It is also worth noting that FP7 is a seven year programme and therefore not all topics will be called in the first or second year.
The NMP theme in FP7 will be structured into four areas: Nanosciences and
Nanotechnologies; Materials; New Production Technologies; and Integration. First calls are planned indicatively for December 2006, with staggered deadlines of April,
September and October 2007 respectively, depending on the type of project.
The policy context and approach taken for NMP in FP7 continues to be very much industry-driven. It seeks to ensure that European industry moves from being resourceintensive to knowledge-intensive whilst at the same time strengthening its position in the global economy. The aim of the theme is to generate step changes and implement decisive knowledge for new applications, creating high value added products, processes and technologies. There will be much continuity with the previous programme but the Work Programme for NMP in FP7 will also take into account the developing Strategic Research Agendas (SRAs) of the relevant European Technology
Platforms.
SMEs will play a particularly important role in NMP due to their roles with respect to advanced technologies. They will be able to participate in all calls within NMP and there will also be some specific SME-focused calls. These calls would be open to those SMEs with a research and development capacity and would still require the participation of other partners from universities and research institutes as relevant.
The areas of nano-tools, nano-instruments and nano-devices are likely to be of particular interest to SMEs.
International cooperation will also play an important role in NMP. As industrial research is becoming increasingly international, NMP needs to reflect it in the Work
Programme. It is likely that there will be specific calls for international cooperation where there is mutual benefit in terms of knowledge generation and market expansion. Industrialised countries and those that have signed Science and
Technology cooperation agreements in the area of NMP are expected to be included in coordinated calls to address objectives of mutual interest. Initiatives to exchange mutual research data will be encouraged. There will also be specific initiatives to promote the participation of emerging economies and developing countries in NMP.
The NMP theme will also seek to coordinate its activities with national programmes.
This should include actions to coordinate programmes and joint activities at a national and regional level. On certain occasions ERA-NET and ERA-NET Plus projects will be used to promote the convergence of research programmes and to strengthen synergies with European Technology Platforms.

Both joint and coordinated calls are likely to take place between NMP and other thematic areas including Health, ICT and Energy. However, these may not appear in calls until 2008 or 2009.
Four funding schemes will be used to implement the Work Programme; Collaborative projects; Networks of Excellence; Coordination and Support Actions; and dissemination actions. Furthermore, some other activities, for example, studies, impact assessments, etc, may also be used.
It is expected that two-stage evaluation will be used for Collaborative projects and
Networks of Excellence so as to better encourage a ‘bottom-up’ approach and for evaluators to more effectively handle the multidisciplinary and cross sectoral nature of NMP. The first stage, concerning the science and technology aspects of the proposal, will be evaluated on scientific quality . If successful, coordinators will then be asked to submit a complete proposal to be evaluated against the full criteria.
The budget for the first year is expected to be around €500 million. The topics for the first calls in 2007 may be structured in the following way:
First call topics in 2007
NANOSCIENCES AND NANOTECHNOLOGIES
1) Nanosciences and converging sciences
• Nano-scale mechanisms of bio/non-bio interactions
• Self assembling and self organisation
• Creation of a free and open European electronic archive of nanosciences and nanotechnologies scientific and technological publications
• Development of methodology, collection and elaboration of scientific-technical and socio-economic data and studies on nanosciences and nanotechnologies, including risk assessment
• Nanosciences (possibly through ERA-NET plus)
2) Nanotechnologies and converging technologies
• Development of nanotechnology-based smart multi-tasking targeted agents for imaging and therapy
• Nanotechnology for health care- Development of new types of targeted delivery systems for cancer treatment usable for phase 1 of clinical trials
• Pilot lines to study and develop nanotechnology-based components
• Equipment for nanotechnology
• Development of cost effective nanotechnology-based solutions for protecting valuable goods – projects, in cooperation with third countries
• Self assembling routes for molecular electronics and nanophotonics “beyond
CMOS”
• Processing technologies and related equipment, handling tools and analytical instruments for the fabrication of “beyond CMOS” devices at laboratory level
• Analysis of the ethical, regulatory, social and economic environment of nanomedicine
• Nanomedicine (possibly through ERA-NET)
• Nanobiotechnology (possibly through ERA-NET or a Coordinated Action)
• Nanometrology (possibly ERA-NET or Coordinated Action)

3) (Eco)toxicology
• Specific, easy-to-use portable devices for measurement and analysis
• EU/USA Coordinated call on (eco)toxicology of nanoparticles (expected to be a coordinated international cooperation call between EU and US)
• Critical review on the data and studies on (eco)toxicity of (i) fullerenes, CNT and their derivates and (ii) of nano-oxides
• Realisation of a critical and commented database
• Environmental, health and safety studies on nanoparticles and nanotech based materials and products (possibly through ERA-NET)
MATERIALS
1) Mastering nano-scale complexity in materials
• Nanostructured composite materials (industrial leadership would be expected)
• Nanostructured coatings and thin films (industrial participation would be required)
• Characterisation of nanostructured materials
2) Knowledge-based smart materials with tailored properties
• Organic materials for electronics and photonics (industrial leadership would be required)
• Nanostructured materials with tailored magnetic properties
• Advanced material architectures for energy
3) Novel biomaterials and bioinspired materials
• Highly porous bioactive scaffolds favouring angiogenesis for tissue engineering
• Advanced implants for critical organs such as heart, liver and pancreas
4) Advances in chemical technologies and materials processing
• Flexible efficient processing for polymers (industrial leadership would be required)
• Nanostructured catalysts with tailor-made functional surfaces
• Renewable materials for functional packaging applications
5) Using engineering to develop high performance knowledge-based materials
• Novel materials tailored for extreme environments (industrial leadership would be required)
• Modelling of microstructural evolution under work conditions and in materials processing
NEW PRODUCTION
1) Development and validation of new industrial models and strategies
• Beyond lean manufacturing – New industrial models for product and process life cycle
• Integrated risk management in plants, industrial parks, industrial systems and networks
2) Adaptive production systems

• Rapidly configurable machines and production systems
• Process intensification in chemicals production
3) Networked production
• Innovative customer-driven product/service design in a global environment
4) Rapid transfer and integration of new technologies into the design and operation of manufacturing processes
• Rapid manufacturing concepts for small series industrial production
5) Exploitation of the convergence of technologies
• Processes and equipment for high quality industrial production of nanosurfaces
• Production technologies for micro-manufacturing
6) Exploitation of the convergence of technologies
 • Processes and equipment for high quality industrial production of nanosurfaces
• Production technologies for micro-manufacturing
INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
1) Integration of knowledge for sectoral and cross sectoral applications
 • Resource efficient and clean buildings
• Advanced wood-based composites and their production
• Application of new materials including bio-based fibres in high-added value textiles products (expected to be SME-dedicated large-scale collaborative projects)
• Multifunctional materials for the future vehicles
• Catalysts and processes for the sustainable production of fuels (industrial leadership would be essential)
• Advanced materials for fuel cells and hydrogen storage (this will be a coordinated call with the Energy thematic area). Industrial participation will be required.
• ERA-NET on construction (ERA-NET Plus used for coordination)
I understand that the first call is indicatively planned for December 2006 but this may well be put back to early 2007. Different deadlines will apply to the call depending on project types. For Collaborative projects and those aimed specifically at SMEs, the deadlines are likely to be in April and October 2007 . For Coordination and Support
Actions the deadline is likely to be in September 2007.
Further information
Nick Hartley’s NMP presentation at the UKRO annual conference in Newcastle is available to UL subscribers at: http://www.ukro.ac.uk/annual_conference/06_conference/06_presentations/060707_a c_hartley_nano.pdf
Contact
Sharone O'Loughlin

Manager, EU & External Funding Programmes
Research Office
Tel: 2160
E-Mail: sharone.oloughlin@ul.ie
18 October 2006