Preface for a MASMICRO special issue in the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Abstract

Communicating research, reaching the public and especially the investors and users of the results arising from research projects, continues to be a major challenge. It is therefore a pleasure to see one of our large, European research projects achieving this task so well, fully in line with the highly professional way in which the research project was carried out. MASMICRO has produced a range of results and extensive communication efforts, culminating in this special issue of the International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Some words about MASMICRO and the NMP programme that funded it: The “Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies” (NMP) programme is a thematic programmes under the seventh framework programme (2007–2013) with the objective to fund research, development, demonstration and coordination projects that will contribute to the transformation of European industry from a resourceto a knowledgeintensive industry, thus meeting the challenge imposed by the new industrial revolution and competition at global level, as well as environmental challenges. The NMP programme has a long tradition for supporting industrial research projects with strong industrial participation, with the objective to improve the competitiveness of European industry. Microand nano-manufacturing projects that generate new, general purpose enabling technologies, with active efforts on transferring micro-technology from laboratory to industry in order to ensure high impact on all sectors, are crucial to reach these objectives. The European Commission has recognised this throughout its framework programmes, where microand nano-technology has been apparent in a range of call topics. The 6th Research Framework Programme allocated €1.4 billion to 550 projects in the field of nano-technology alone, putting the EC in front as the world's largest public investor in this field. The 7th Research Framework Programme fully recognises importance of the new microand nanomanufacturing technologies. The first NMP call resulted in over 20% of the budget foreseen for large-scale projects going to MNT-related projects. The second call has similarly produced a long range of new MNT projects now being negotiated for start later in the year. MASMICRO was funded by the NMP programme under the previous sixth framework programme (2003–2007), as one of a range of challenging projects addressing the topic of micro-manufacturing, a topic area that by its multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary nature has the potential to be a major enabler in transforming European industry. MASMICRO gives an example of a project that has covered all issues of a European project, developing new technology and integrating this for industrial use while at the same time considering social issues and the Int J Adv Manuf Technol (2010) 47:819–820 DOI 10.1007/s00170-009-2105-9