MNT-ERA.NET II · Micro and Nano Technologies for a new highly competitive European industry

• MNT-ERA.NET II will improve the coordination between funding programmes, research organisations and industries and secure durable cooperation between key actors from national and regional funding systems. It will promote the convergence of MNT programmes, the streamlining of procedures, and the efficient use of resources, thereby reducing the fragmentation of European funding instruments. The value of programmes for end-users will increase due to a close interaction with European industry, exploiting strategy papers and roadmaps (such as the MINAM SRA). • MNT-ERA.NET II will aim at the best possible integration of regional and national strategies with European needs and visions by setting up a joint RTD programme, ensuring complementarities with other funding instruments. This will help to reduce cross-European programme duplication and to overcome barriers to entry, enabling the rapid dissemination of research results and exploiting the scientific, technological and innovative impact of public investment in RTD. This will be of particular value for regions and countries that are catching up in terms of research investment and performance. Innovative joint calls, operated in a variable geometry approach, will be widely promoted among the target groups, especially high-tech SMEs. They will reflect the needs identified by the European R&D community, thus opening an attractive and efficient tool for transnational RTD. • MNT-ERA.NET II will therefore stimulate the increased and more rapid uptake of new micro- and nano-technologies within Member states industry. It will support the broad implementation of decisive knowledge for high added-value products, processes and applications and provide strategic and practical contributions to enhancing the competitiveness of the European industry. • MNT-ERA.NET II will prepare an ERA NET PLUS to achieve maximum impact of joint programming by mobilising substantial funding from member states and the EC.