European Commission 


	Research Directorate-General - Growth Programme
Sustainable production and nanotechnology opportunities
The imminent start-up of the European Commission's Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6) refocuses attention on the need for sustainable competitiveness and the transition towards a knowledge-based society. In this context, 'sustainable production' is as relevant to the delivery of services and the provision of knowledge itself as to the re-engineering of traditional manufacturing processes. Nanotechnologies and nano-materials promise to offer many exciting opportunities to enhance health, wealth and quality of life, while conserving finite material resources and reducing environmental impact.
The potential of nanotechnology as a major driver for technological change is evidenced by the commitment to nano-scale research by the world's major economic powers. The European Union is already a strong contender in this field, as indicated by its volume of scientific publications and numbers of patent depositions.
Access to powerful new instruments such as scanning probe microscopes, together with the availability of escalating computer power, is giving scientists increased ability to observe and manipulate matter on the molecular and atomic scale. This opens up a wide vista of possibilities - from the production of new, lighter and stronger engineering composites, to sensors capable of reacting to minute quantities of material and therapeutic drugs targeted at specific sites in the body.
Solid foundation in FP5
Under FP5, the Sustainable and Competitive Growth (GROWTH) programme alone already has more than 40 on-going nanotechnology-based projects. Many of these do not have sustainable production as a primary goal, but working at the nano-level typically implies reduced consumption of energy and materials. And new process developments routinely rank waste reduction, effluent elimination and recyclability among key objectives.
These initiatives illustrate both 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches - i.e. those moving towards the nano-world from the macro-scale, often by extending the miniaturisation route pioneered by the electronics industry; and from the atomic scale, using chemical or biochemical synthesis and various physical processes to produce materials with ordered structures or tailored surface properties at the nano-level.


Some illustrations of the former are:
* ROBOSEM1, in which a nano-handling robot system for a scanning electron microscope will be developed for micro-assembly and nano-testing applications. This will feature sensor feedback from video cameras and force microsensors, plus a virtual reality representation of the working environment.
* MONA LISA2, investigating new nanostructures for field effect transistors (FET), made using unconventional parallel lithography and growth techniques. As well as reducing defects and improving performance, downscaling the electrode spacing will bring energy savings.
As a project cluster, NANOTRIB establishes synergies between the consortia of six projects - MICLUB3, LUBRICOAT4, HIDUR5, TRIBO6, NANOCOMP7 and SMART QUASICRYSTALS8 - working concurrently in the field of nano-scale lubrication films and low-friction surfaces. Strong impacts are expected in the field of energy and material savings.
The now completed MicroChem9 (see separate press release) has also made important progress in the production of laboratory-on-a-chip analysers for cost-effective monitoring of water purity on the basis of chemical analyses involving only nanolitre quantities of liquid. This allows much more thorough monitoring of the quality, and hereby the security, of effluents and critical potable water resources.
Among numerous bottom-up examples are:
* NANOMAG10 (see separate press release), which is exploring new corrosion-resistant coatings for the lightweight magnesium alloys used increasingly in automotive and aerospace construction. These are a means of eliminating processes involving carcinogenic compounds, and achieving a more widespread use of an alloy with inherent sustainability properties, as endorsed by the project's life cycle assessment.
* NEON11, targeting the fabrication of new electronic memory devices making use of nanocrystals produced by ion beam synthesis or deposition techniques. Increasing information storage densities will cut materials usage and decrease power demand.
New impetus in FP6
The advent of FP6 and the European Research Area (ERA) will provide an ideal environment within which to continue this work. However, a notable characteristic of FP6 will be the move towards larger scale research integration, accomplished by the use of new instruments (funding mechanisms) designed to support larger consortia pursuing co-ordinated long-term programmes. These are called 'integrated projects' and 'networks of excellence'.
Integrated projects constitute a response to the need to create the critical mass necessary for the achievement of significant concrete results. They will also make it possible to combine research, demonstration, technology transfer and training activities in a single contract, thus improving the development and exchange of knowledge.
Networks of excellence are intended to bring about a lasting integration of research capacities at a pan-European level. The Community funds involved in the early years will be used to foster the growth of lasting self-supporting collaborations.
In the latter part of FP5, GROWTH foreshadowed this trend by creating thematic networks and forming 'clusters' of projects seen to have common problems and interests. 
Launched in July 2002, the NANOFORUM network (see separate press release) will, in fact, continue through the four-year FP6 period. Its broad frame of reference will provide a basis for raising awareness, supporting and encouraging the adoption of new nanotechnologies, and facilitating the development of new industrially-oriented nanotechnology research across Europe. Another major activity will be the dissemination of information as widely as possible, for example via the media or through special interest groups.


More focused research priorities
To improve the efficiency of community research, FP6 will address a limited number of selected priority research areas - with the emphasis on those that are deemed to have strategic significance for the EU, and which lend themselves to implementation at the European level. The wide potential spread of applications for nanotechnology means that its impact will be felt across virtually the whole programme. 
, With a budget of € 1300 million and its multi-disciplinary approach, the so-called Priority 3 on industrial technologies will become the main vehicle for research in this area over the next four years.  It has three main objectives
1. Nanotechnologies and nano-sciences are considered as a flagship of the next industrial revolution and a possible response to  diminishing resources
2. Knowledge-based multifunctional materials should provide new functionalities and improved performances for multi-sectoral applications;
3. New production processes and devices should provide the industrial system and consumers of the future with the necessary tools for efficient and safe life-cycle design, manufacturing, re-use and recovery.

Specific strategic areas
Under this umbrella, a number of specific strategic areas are being identified with clear objectives towards a sustainable world. By bringing together nanotechnologies, materials science and manufacturing as well as other technologies based for example on bio or environmental sciences, research in selected areas is expected to lead to real breakthroughs and radical innovation in production and consumption patterns. These include:
* Moving from traditional to high-added-value industry
The aim is to promote a shift from traditionally less RTD-intensive industries towards high-added-value businesses, especially SMEs, to ensuring future competitive advantage and retain or improve employment capacities. Nanotechnology, as well as biotechnologies, new materials and hybrid technologies will contribute to the development of new knowledge-based, added-value and more environment friendly products and services (e.g. new printed media).
* New concepts for flexible and intelligent production systems
A move towards the knowledge-based economy calls for new industrial paradigms and approaches. This can be achieved through breakthrough organisational, regulatory and technological joint developments. The major outcome of this strategic area would be a framework for manufacturing in 2010, based on improved co-ordination and integration of research teams supported under previous European projects.


* Sustainable and safe industrial systems
Sustainable development (meaning sometimes 90% of reduction in use of new resources) demands not only new methods of production, but also an increased awareness of the benefits of life-cycle approaches, and of the need to minimise risks for citizens and environment. This is where integrated research activities will play a key role in supporting transformation of the European Industry. Integrating nanotechnologies and new materials into production systems will help introducing new design and new way of making things smaller, cheaper, better to run, fighting pollution and developing clean and less source intensive technologies.
* Industrial technologies for security
Breakthrough advances in intelligent sensor technology will provide opportunities for significant improvement in environmental protection, and in the security and quality of life of citizens. Nanotechnology-based sensors and central systems will make it possible to detect hazards of chemical, physical or biological origin; to monitor reliability of safety systems; and to provide timely feedback for the initiation of protective action
* Industrial technologies for health
Improving the health of the population is a prime reason for the development of competitive and sustainable industrial systems. The objective should be the development of advanced intelligent bio-hybrid systems and their production lines.In this context, the area of biosensors and of nanobiotechnologies has a huge potential for public health and will boost industrial competitiveness.
* From atoms to cities
New materials, new concepts and new techniques open great potential for improvement of living and working conditions, particularly in cities. The main objective is to allow people to live in a more adaptive, personalised and sustainable environment through the development of customised, environment-friendly, intelligent solutions. New concepts should be designed and developed, based in particular on new materials able to adapt to their environment, extend their useful lifetime and save energy. 
These strategic goals are complemented by two technology platforms creating the basis for radical innovation and allowing the validation of the necessary materials and engineering approaches.
* 
Expanding knowledge in nanoscience and engineering
Nanoscience and nanotechnology offer a new approach and opportunities to science, technology and engineering, as a means of supporting breakthrough innovation. Nanotechnologies could for example provide universal access to light weight portable energy. Research also needs new tools for characterisation, investigation and future manufacturing, which allow precision and accuracy at the atomic and molecular scale. All these issues represent major long-term research challenges for sustainable production. 
* Materials technology
Development of multifunctional materials of superior performance, exhibiting a new set of properties and suitable for a range of novel applications, will not only expand human activities beyond their present limits, but also significantly contribute to sustainability competitiveness of European industry. The main objective is to facilitate development of novel materials as well as to provide new processing solutions by encouraging new approaches, such as 'made to measure' materials or learning from nature, and fostering multidisciplinarity. This will promote creation of new RTD-intensive industries in existing, emerging and promising areas, generate new knowledge-based jobs and encourage a multi- and trans-disciplinary culture in the field of materials science.

As Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin notes: "Tremendous opportunities are offered by research in order to optimise the life cycle of materials and products, and to break the link between environmental impact and economic growth. This is one of the major objectives of European research, which should be pursued for many years to come!"
1 Development of a smart nanorobot for sensor-based handling in a scanning electron microscope
2 Development of novel conjugated molecular nanostructures by lithography and their transport scaling aspects
3 In-process structured hard coatings for microlubrication
4 Environmentally friendly lubricants and low friction coatings. A route towards sustainable products and production processes
5 Improving competitiveness and conserving the environment through high durability nanocomposite coatings
6 Nanostructured coatings for engineering tribological applications
7 New nanocomposite-based wear-resistant and self-lubricating pvd-coatings for future applications in tools and components
8 Tailored quasicrystalline surface layers for reduced friction and wear
9 A miniaturised industrial chemical sensing system
10 Development of innovative nanocomposite coatings for magnesium castings protection
11 Nanocrystals for electronic applications on ion beam synthesis or deposition techniques
12 In-process structured hard coatings for microlubrication
13 Environmentally friendly lubricants and low friction coatings. A route towards sustainable products and production processes
14 Improving competitiveness and conserving the environment through high durability nanocomposite coatings
15 Nanostructured coatings for engineering tribological applications
16 New nanocomposite-based wear-resistant and self-lubricating pvd-coatings for future applications in tools and components
17 Tailored quasicrystalline surface layers for reduced friction and wear
	Page 1 of 6