MATERA brings together the policy-makers in European material research
9 July 2005 - 9 July 2005
The main goal of MATERA is to strengthen the bases for durable European partnerships in RTD planning and collaboration in materials science and technology. Its aim is to help national and regional science and technology authorities to improve the dissemination of knowledge and skills in Europe. This will also mean launching joint activities in materials science and engineering.
"The project enables for the first time a real cooperation between the European funding organisations on materials science and engineering. Even though the road to joint and coordinated activities will be rocky and challenging, the final results will be worth it. Together we can achieve more," affirms the coordinator of the project Ms. Sisko Sipilä from the National Technology Agency of Finland, Tekes.
A rapidly evolving field
Material sciences have a great, positive impact on the quality of human life, on sustainable development and also on the competitiveness of industry. It is one of the most important areas of research and development in industrialised countries. The importance of material sciences for the development of such fields as energy, environment, health and safety is widely recognised. By forging a network of European research funding organisations and policy-makers, the MATERA project will eventually help to strengthen new and innovative materials science and engineering.
Recently the core of materials research has evolved from metallurgy and metals science to looking at functional materials, polymers and materials for extreme conditions. Nanomaterials are a common research subject at present. This kind of rapid transition within the discipline demands more knowledge and skills from researchers. Intensive international collaboration, which MATERA is helping to create, is essential if material science and technology are to evolve.
"We look forward to building durable European RTD networks between the national material research groups. These networks will also strengthen the national development," Sisko Sipilä points out.
How will MATERA contribute?
The methods for reaching the main goals of the project will be
1. benchmarking programme-like research and development procedures in use with national and regional policy makers,2. identifying those research, technical developments and demonstration areas where programme collaboration at European level would be particularly beneficial,3. identifying those RTD areas in which to invest nationally or regionally,4. developing systematic working methodologies from general science and technology policy to practical operations,5. intensifying policy making operations
Joint activities will be launched once the areas for potential joint activity have been highlighted and the common planning, evaluation and dissemination processes involved in joint calls between project partners have been tested. Much of MATERA's progress and achievements will be open to parties outside the network. This information will include best practices, benchmarking of procedures, research programmes and industrial and technical implementation methods. The cornerstone of MATERA's communications will be the project's web-site: http://www.matera.fi.
The 15 organisations participating in MATERA are: Tekes (Finland, coordinator), AKA (Finland), IWT (Belgium, Flemisch), DGTRE (Belgium, Wallone), MWA/NRW (Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia), RANNIS (Iceland), EI (Ireland), MIUR (Italy), LCS (Latvia), FNR (Luxembourg), RCN (Norway), MSRIT (Poland), MHEST (Slovenia), KTI/CTI (Switzerland) and Invest NI (UK, Northern Ireland). MATERA's networking budget is c. 2.3 million euros.
For more information please contact:,Sisko Sipilä, coordinator,e-mail: sisko.sipila@tekes.fi
http://www.matera.fi
"The project enables for the first time a real cooperation between the European funding organisations on materials science and engineering. Even though the road to joint and coordinated activities will be rocky and challenging, the final results will be worth it. Together we can achieve more," affirms the coordinator of the project Ms. Sisko Sipilä from the National Technology Agency of Finland, Tekes.
A rapidly evolving field
Material sciences have a great, positive impact on the quality of human life, on sustainable development and also on the competitiveness of industry. It is one of the most important areas of research and development in industrialised countries. The importance of material sciences for the development of such fields as energy, environment, health and safety is widely recognised. By forging a network of European research funding organisations and policy-makers, the MATERA project will eventually help to strengthen new and innovative materials science and engineering.
Recently the core of materials research has evolved from metallurgy and metals science to looking at functional materials, polymers and materials for extreme conditions. Nanomaterials are a common research subject at present. This kind of rapid transition within the discipline demands more knowledge and skills from researchers. Intensive international collaboration, which MATERA is helping to create, is essential if material science and technology are to evolve.
"We look forward to building durable European RTD networks between the national material research groups. These networks will also strengthen the national development," Sisko Sipilä points out.
How will MATERA contribute?
The methods for reaching the main goals of the project will be
1. benchmarking programme-like research and development procedures in use with national and regional policy makers,2. identifying those research, technical developments and demonstration areas where programme collaboration at European level would be particularly beneficial,3. identifying those RTD areas in which to invest nationally or regionally,4. developing systematic working methodologies from general science and technology policy to practical operations,5. intensifying policy making operations
Joint activities will be launched once the areas for potential joint activity have been highlighted and the common planning, evaluation and dissemination processes involved in joint calls between project partners have been tested. Much of MATERA's progress and achievements will be open to parties outside the network. This information will include best practices, benchmarking of procedures, research programmes and industrial and technical implementation methods. The cornerstone of MATERA's communications will be the project's web-site: http://www.matera.fi.
The 15 organisations participating in MATERA are: Tekes (Finland, coordinator), AKA (Finland), IWT (Belgium, Flemisch), DGTRE (Belgium, Wallone), MWA/NRW (Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia), RANNIS (Iceland), EI (Ireland), MIUR (Italy), LCS (Latvia), FNR (Luxembourg), RCN (Norway), MSRIT (Poland), MHEST (Slovenia), KTI/CTI (Switzerland) and Invest NI (UK, Northern Ireland). MATERA's networking budget is c. 2.3 million euros.
For more information please contact:,Sisko Sipilä, coordinator,e-mail: sisko.sipila@tekes.fi
http://www.matera.fi