ABSTRACT
Horizon 2020 — the future Framework Programme for Research and Innovation-will build upon the successes of the current Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The aim is to maximise the contribution of EU funded research and innovation to sustainable growth and jobs and to tackling the grand challenges such as climate change, energy and food security, health and our ageing population.
This will be achieved by creating a coherent set of instruments, along the whole “innovation chain”, starting from basic research, culminating in bringing innovative products and services to market; and also to support nontechnological innovation.
In this context, manufacturing has a double role as a key enabler for new, innovative products and the provider of an efficient and competitive value creation process. Manufacturing research will have to take into account the megatrends such as ageing, globalisation and scarcity of resources and will have to focus on competitiveness by increasing efficiency and flexibility. The experience and the results from past and ongoing projects show, that- in particular from Micro- and Nanomanufacturing- a substantial contribution to the overall objectives can be expected.
