22/04/2010
Production processes
Despite growing globalisation and challenges from low-wage economies, manufacturing has a bright future in Europe in a sustainable, knowledge-based society. There is a strong indication of the re-emergence of the EU manufacturing sector as part of the new sustainable economy – in technical, environmental and social terms. But it is clear that such sustainable development requires continuing innovation in the underpinning products and processes, with a need for consistent and effective research over the next decade based on a clear and long-term vision.
European companies, particularly SMEs, must evolve and modernise their production processes. New engineering approaches exploiting nanotechnologies, flexible manufacturing, stimulating working environments, ambient intelligence and clean processing should be fostered. This requires more networking, increased flexibility, adapted structures, stronger links between research and innovation, increased added value in products, production and services, and decreased environmental impacts. Research into production processes is therefore a key issue.
Overview
European Technology Platforms play key role in FP7 preparation - 17/05/2005
European Technology Platforms (ETPs) are playing a key role in the preparations for the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Some 22 technology platforms have been established to date. The Commission is keen to encourage industrial leadership of these strategic initiatives.
Events
First "China-EU Workshop on Clean Production Technologies" in Beijing, China - 22/04/2010
Clean production technologies are of growing importance in order to minimise the environmental impacts of industrial activities. The challenges of sustainable development call for more international cooperation. In this context, the European Commission (DG RTD) and China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) have organised the first "China-EU Workshop on Clean Production Technologies" in Beijing, China on 17-18 March 2010.
Information on the background and the programme of this workshop can be found here 
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Commission launches MANUFUTURE Platform - 15/12/2004
On December 7, Achilleas Mitsos, EC Director General Research, announced the launch of the MANUFUTURE Platform to an invited audience of industrialists, academics and policy-makers at the MANUFUTURE 2004 conference in Enschede, The Netherlands
Success stories
KMM-NoE fuels research and competitiveness in Europe - 26/06/2009
Europe has put the pressure on both the research sector and industry to develop innovative knowledge-based multicomponent materials (KMM) for durable and safe performances. Rising to meet this challenge was the EU-funded KMM-NoE project, a Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Network of Excellence in the field of advanced materials like intermetallics and metal-ceramic composites. The project received EUR 8.1 million in funding.
EU project SEPMAC pushes the envelope - 18/05/2009
The development of a clean and safe machining process for the production of magnesium parts in the automotive sector is important for Europeans. Rising to the challenge to meet this need was the EU-funded SEPMAC project, with an EU funding of EUR 2.3 million.
Useful links
European Industrial ResearchIssue 2: Improving European competitiveness (PDF)
MINAM: European Technology Platform for Micro- and NanoManufacturing.
