Description
The main goal of the MATERA- ERA-NET Materials project was to create a durable cooperation platform for national and regional policy makers and managers having strategic activities in the field of materials science and engineering in Europe.
In a long term the project influences in strengthening of the new innovative materials science and engineering which is regarded as one of the most important science and technology disciplines. Material sciences have a great, positive impact on the quality of human life, on sustainable development and also on the competitiveness of industry. The importance of material sciences for the development of such fields as energy, environment, health and safety is widely recognised.
With this platform the national and regional science and technology authorities improved the diffusion and transfer of knowledge and skills in Europe. The project thus intensified the innovation value chain from basic materials science and engineering to the benefit of European society and business.
The MATERA project gradually increased ambitious programme-type collaboration between European countries and regions and deepened the European Research Area. The project also helped the national and regional decision makers to intensify their policy making operations and strengthened their development. As a result of this ERA-NET project joint trans-national activities on materials science and engineering were launched.
Duration of the project was over years (1.2.2005 – 31.5.2011). Coordination costs are covered by the European Commission in the sixth framework programme.
Objectives
The MATERA project had two main long term objectives
- to increase stepwise ambitious programme-type collaboration between European countries and regions in the field of materials science and engineering to deepen the European Research Area and
- to strengthen new innovative material related expertise and its utilisation in European business life and industry.
The methods for reaching these main goals of the MATERA project were
- benchmarking programme-like research and development procedures in use with national and regional policy makers
- identifying those research, technical developments and demonstration areas (RTD areas) where programme collaboration at European level would be particularly beneficial
- identifying those RTD areas in which to invest nationally or regionally
- developing systematic working methodologies from general science and technology policy to practical operations
- intensifying policy making operations
Work Packages
The work plan consisted of four main operational work packages, of one work package for coordination, dissemination and network enlargement and of one work package for management of the project. These work packages gradually led to a durable cooperation platform for policy makers and managers.
The work packages and their main tasks were:
WP1 Information exchange
- set up a structured overview of material programmes and other strategic activities in the participating countries and regions with their operating procedures as well a general overview of major materials programmes in non-participating countries in Europe.
WP2 Promoting collaboration
- prepare auspicious circumstances for potential collaboration between national/regional programmes and other strategically targeted activities.
WP3 Piloting joint activities
- elaborate a joint action plan for cooperation between national/regional programmes (and/or between other strategically targeted actions) and to launch joint pilot exercises between programmes to test realisation of joint activities.
WP4 Implementation of activities
- launch trans-national research and development activities within the area of materials science and engineering.
WP5 Coordination, communication and network extension
- active communication with the procedures and utilises of knowledge; network the policy making and public financing actors operating in the area of materials science and engineering in Europe; disseminate the results of the MATERA project.
WP6 Management
- ensure that the objectives set for single tasks of the MATERA project ant the goal to achieve a durable cooperation will be fulfilled.