NEST is a new feature of the European research landscape, designed to help anticipate Europe's scientific and technological needs.

It will support unconventional and visionary research that explores new avenues of science and technology as well as consolidating and accelerating the development of European capabilities in emerging research fields.

A distinctive aspect of NEST is its flexibility: researchers will be given the freedom to develop and prove their ideas within the broadest possible limits, and the research themes to be supported will be selected on the basis of opportunities and needs.