ERA-NET on Materials (including Materials for Energy)

Specific challenge: Maintaining Europe’s position in research related to materials science and engineering requires concentrated action on common European research priorities in view of implementing joint initiatives. The Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Energy Technologies (SEC (2011)1609) was recently published in the context of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. A strategic and industrial relevant approach to implement this roadmap needs to cover the entire research and innovation chain by pooling national research and innovation capacities, thereby mobilising European infrastructure networks as well as promoting education and training in materials research and innovation.

Scope: The proposed ERA-NET aims at coordinating the research efforts of the participating Member States, Associated States and Regions in the field of materials, continuing the activities started by M-ERA.NET for materials research and innovation, especially enabling low carbon energy technologies, and to implement a joint transnational call for proposals (resulting in grants to third parties) with EU co-funding to fund multinational innovative research initiatives in this domain.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. At least 50% of this amount should be used for implementing the Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Energy Technologies. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

                Synergies and coherence in key fields of industrial materials research at national and regional level;

                Implementation of relevant parts of the Materials Roadmap Enabling Low Carbon Energy Technologies (SEC(2011)1609), and relevant objectives of the SET-Plan (COM (2009)519).

Type of action: ERA-NET (COFUND).