ECAMM · European structured research area for CAtalytic and Magnetic nanoMaterials

The objective of the proposal is to support the creation of a European structured research area for catalytic and magnetic nanomaterials by integrating two DISs (ERIC and EIMM) operating in the fields of catalysts and nanomagnetism, and their plan to expand current activities in order to (1) obtain a larger coverage of industrial technologies/sectors and (2) extend the involvement to the activities of the relevant industrial partners. The aim is to create a realistic basis to achieve financial sustainability of the two DISs which will keep their own individual personality, but share knowledge and expertise, structure, equipment and other resources, to offer a broader and cost-effective range of services to companies, and in the long-term the vision is to provide new competences (deriving from the integrated collaboration) to new industrial sectors such as materials for nanomedicine, health care and diagnostics, to ICT, environment protection, and nanomaterials’ risk.Functional to this objective are also the possibilities a) to realize efficient synergies to reduce the management costs of the DISs, and to be more cost-effective for a structuring effect inside ERA, b) create a larger critical mass, and a broader spectrum of expertise and equipment, c) improve the attractiveness towards young researchers through a combination of high-profile science and educational activities in their favor, and d) enhance the visibility and develop more efficient politics for incorporating new partners in order to progressively expand the actual core partners.Reaching the objectives, implementing these activities will thus result in 1) an improved coordination in both research and innovation, through the management and cultural synergies between the two DISs (ERIC and EIMM); 2) a more robust critical mass of the durable integrated structure; 3) a boosted dynamism of research, technological development and innovation in the field(s); and 4) an improved structuring of the European Research Area.