EURIMUS in the ERA

In the purpose of being part of the ERA (European Research Area) construction and reinforcement, the EURIMUS Organisation has decided to be an active partner in the launch of European initiatives. That’s why today, EURIMUS is participating to two projects funded by the European Commission.

EURIMUS will bring:

? its competences and knowledge of the micro and nanotechnologies domain

? its competences and knowledge of the MNT actors in Europe

? its technical expertise

In addition, EURIMUS will transmit its knowledge in running EUREKA programmes such as:

? Project evaluation

? Project selection

? Project follow-up

? Links with EURIMUS members, project partners and national public authorities

EURIMUS II is participating to the two following European projects:

ERA PILOT MiNa TSI

“European Research Area Pilot Action on Micro- Nano-Technology Systems Integration”

Web site: under construction.

EURIMUS acts as full partner.

Summary:

The ERA Pilot MiNa TSI will network national and European entities supporting systems integration related to micro and nanotechnologies. The partners therefore are organisations and initiatives designing policies and/or running programmes in this sector including the EUREKA initiatives EURIMUS and PIDEA. The national ministries represent the member states’ interests in the Board of the project. The European Commission as one of the main policy actors in this area will also be involved. The project will be based on and assist the attempts of industry to establish an initiative for defining research priorities and policy options for FP VII and beyond.

There is the necessity to transform an unsteady and irregular dialogue between the national and European programmes into a solid platform – including industry - on which those responsible for research management can establish mechanisms for co-ordination and explore formulas to be more efficient in the way research is carried out and specially to improve the transformation of technological excellence into economic and social achievements. Bridges have to be build to industry in order to insure their input. The project will therefore help industry to define their research priorities and based hereon establish a formal dialogue between those institutional entities involved in promoting micro and nano systems and integration aspects in Europe. The project will include the following aspects:

? Research priorities will be defined and a research agenda will be set up in close co-operation

? with industry

? A process of exchange and communication on funding and policy approaches of European initiatives and at member state level will be established.

? Common actions will be defined as interims and final results of the process (e.g. an output could consist of creating a basis for an Industry driven Policy Initiative)

? Along technology roadmaps future R&D and innovation policy requirements will be defined

? Policy/funding concepts will be developed

? A commitment will be reached on the "division of labour" among national programmes, EUREKA initiatives and FP activities.

Strategic objectives addressed:

The Era Pilot will contribute to the creation of the ERA in realising a coordinated and concerted, better structured and more coherent policy related to MNT Systems Integration in Europe. It is the project’s objective to optimise the allocation of resources, creating synergies and complementarities among the various entities funding/financing RTD and avoiding incongruities of policy efforts in Europe. The envisaged results will contribute to consolidate the leading position and competitiveness of European industry in that area.

Start date: 1st of July 2005

Duration: 24 months

Co-ordinator: VDI/VDE-IT (D)

MNT ERA-NET

“Micro- and Nanoscale Science to New Technologies for Europe”

Web site: www.mnt-era.net

EURIMUS acts in this project as external expert.

Summary:

Micro- Nano- Technology (MNT) is a key enabling technology covering the fields of microtechnologies, nanotechnology and microsystems. MNT is expected to impact significantly on future economic and social development. It will stimulate new products and services, create and secure employment in Europe and improve living conditions, including of people who presently lack autonomy as a result of age, illness or accidents. MNT will also contribute greatly to meeting ecological challenges and achieving sustainable development, innovatively and economically. The main objectives of MNT ERA-NET during the four years are:

? to exchange among the participating programmes strategic information about programme design and management;

? to learn from each other through the exchange of good practice;

? to implement joint and coordinated activities among participating programmes so as to add value for programme users, programme managers and programme owners;

? to secure mid-term cooperation between the participating programmes through a detailed action plan;

? to expand the project to further countries and regions in Europe so as to broaden its impact, and

? to establish long-term cooperation by exploring options and selecting and implementing a preferred institutional framework for sustained co-operation between the participating programmes, other European initiatives and other relevant stake-holders.

Europe currently holds a good scientific and technological position in MNT, but in comparison with North America, Asia and Australia our research and application efforts are dispersed and fragmented.

In order to exploit Europe's good position, this dispersion and fragmentation have to be addressed through, inter alia, better co-operation between national MNT programmes on a transnational level in Europe.

The participating partners at the launch of MNT ERA-NET are key MNT programmes, and leading programme management agencies from 16 countries managed by Austria.

Start date: 1st of January 2004

Duration: 36 months

Co-ordinator: FFG (A)