NMP 2008-4.0-12 Horizontal activities responding to emerging and policy needs in
the context of ERA
Technical content/ scope: Achieving the ambitious technical, industrial and policy
objectives assigned to the NMP programme requires the collective ability of the EC,
of industry (especially through its involvement in the Technology Platforms) and of
Member States' programmes to define, monitor and implement a coordinated set of
initiatives : to improve synergies of efforts in the R& D field, to establish the
necessary and timely links and actions with other important enabling factors
influencing the successful implementation and social uptake of NMP technologies on
the market place (eg through : availability of skilled human resources and of adequate
training ; awareness raising ; anticipation of decision-makers in industry and in
governments to prepare adequate and science-based frameworks and regulations etc)
In this context, it is necessary to establish a shared basis of knowledge along the
following priority areas: a) comparative evaluation scoreboard and performance
indicators in NMP research activities between Europe and major third countries
(especially USA, Japan, China) to monitor the implementation progress of European
strategic initiatives in industrial technologies. Unique metrics is required for
assessing the impact of new science in fields such as nano, materials and production
technologies towards the key objectives of Theme 4, namely industrial transformation
and sustainable production & consumption. More specifically, the support action is
expected to develop an assessment methodology & progress indicators; to carry out
data collection & analysis; and to provide an effective communication channel related
to the implementation progress and contribution of relevant European strategic
initiatives in industrial technologies towards the objectives of Theme 4. These
strategic initiatives include, but are not limited to, the European Technology
Platforms, Joint Technology Initiatives and Eureka. The developed methodology
should be validated in a number of key industrial sectors within the project period. b)
assessment of impacts induced by development of NMP technologies and by
changing patterns of industry on skills and human resources, in order to anticipate
skill and competence gaps, at research, engineering or manufacturing levels and to
prepare proactive education, training and reskill schemes c) rapid availability of
multi-disciplinary expertise on a European scale by using the resources of expert
networks. The objective is to obtain fast and targeted advice, analysis and synthesis
concerning emerging scientific, technological and industrial development of relevance
to industrial technologies to help the EC improve its ability to assess strategic
developments, its capacity to react to them and to prepare adequate and timely
initiatives to fulfil the objective of the NMP programme.
Funding scheme: Specific Support Actions aiming at supporting research activities
Specific features: A maximum of two projects will be funded under each one of the
above sub-areas, with a maximum of EUR 150 000 of EC funding for each.
Expected impact: (i) proposal bringing added value to existing knowledge supporting
decision making process; ii) production of recommendations and of practical
measures of relevance to research and related policy agenda (as well as target
measurement indicators wherever appropriate) supporting EC and MS decisionmaking procedures. (iii) support to actions and work of relevant stakeholders; (iv)
support to the coordinated implementation and planning of ETPs' strategic agendas
and roadmaps, throughout the Framework Programme and in synergy with Member
States.