The CAMST Programme has established a network for the European research in magnetic recording. This has been set-up by organising Topical meetings, General meetings, the exchange of researchers and publishing the quarterly newsletter Read/Write and a yearly distribution of a catalogue. As a result the co-operation between universities and between universities and industries has improved. Many special topical meetings and short term exchanges have been organised. As a spin-off from this programme several national and new EU projects are initiated or have been started already. Bilateral projects between European recording industries and CAMST laboratories have been started already.
In the field of magnetic storage technology great changes are taking place. In order to keep about ahead in the intense international competition, a number of European Universities and Industries have decided to join up an EC-backed research consortium, CAMST-II, in the scope of Brite/Euram Concerted Action.

The CAMST-II programme is a sequel to the CAMST-I programme that has been successfully going on for 3 years. The CAMST-II programme is being led by a Steering Committee, itself consisting of a Chairman from University, 2 Area leaders from Industry (1 for the Materials Area, 1 for the Systems Area), and 5 coordinators from University for the sub-areas : Thin Films, Particulate Media, Micromagnetism, Magnetic Recording and Tribology.

The 60 collaborating laboratories together span the complete range of research taking place in Magnetic Storage Technology. It is expected that this collaboration will enable the European Industry in this field to compete internationally well into the 21st century.