The structure of a molecule or material dictates it properties and provides the key to understanding and enhancing these characteristics for a new generation of functional chemicals. These molecules and materials are central to the future of the EU in terms of enhancing the human environment and maintaining a competitive position for advanced chemicals in areas such as nanomaterials, information technology, aeronautics and space, sustainable development, global change, ecosystems and smart/adaptive functionalities, which have been identified by the EU as priority Thematic Areas in Framework 6. This project will be undertaken by a dynamic team of researchers at the forefront of this subject area who will provide the best training possible for Early Stage Training Fellows (ESTF) in Structural Chemistry. This is be achieved by delivering the following elements Ø access to world leading facilities, both in Southampton and at other European centres, for structure determination and modeling Ø comprehensive training in (a) scientific knowledge through dedicated lectures and courses and (b) generic skills in scientific project management, safety and presentation of knowledge. Ø a research project at the forefront of structural chemistry supervised by world renown scientists Ø excellent opportunities to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects within the University and with key, associated European research centres Ø a structured series of milestones to be reached that leads to the award of the PhD degree for successful researchers EST Fellows trained by this programme will have all the skills and knowledge to undertake scientific research projects central to many disciplines within, for example, chemistry, materials science, environmental science, condensed matter physics and biochemistry.

NADIA is co-ordinated by EnginSoft, Hi Tech SME, and addresses multi-level S&T objectives: 1. Engineering & Production: Proof-of-concept light alloy multifunctional components for the transport industry 2. Applied RTD: Multi-scale design & simultaneous engineering tools; Processing solutions; Procedure & standards for components 3. Basic Research: models of nano-scale phenomena in alloys & nano/micro structure effects on properties; Alloying elements effects on components behaviour; Optimised nano-size powders for coatings NADIA is fully integrated: Vertically (over entire value-chain), Horizontally (S&T multi-disciplinary nature), on Activities & Partnership, European, Financial. Materials, processes, new simultaneous engineering tools will lead to production of transport demonstrators. The work-plan has 8 WPs: - WP1 Multi-scale tools for design and processing - WP2 Nano- & micro-scale phenomena - WP3 Nano- & micro-scale properties - WP4 Knowledge-based component demonstrators - WP5 Component behaviour - WP6 Training for Design & Production - WP7 Innovation, Exploitation & Dissemination - WP8 Integration & Management The 12 SMEs are alloy producers (Metalli Capra, MBN), equipment suppliers (LPM), engineering & design companies (Enginsoft, Magma, Foundrysoft, Matfem), foundries (Asmet, Tenhults), coating suppliers (Thermico), components assemblers (Abamotor). RTD centers (Sintef, CRF, IPPT, Tekniker) and Universities (Trondheim, Padova, Helsinki, Joenkoeping) will focus materials, processes & engineering. Large industries are those strictly needed: primary alloys producers (Hydro), car manufacturers (DaimlerChrysler, Ford), special technology foundry for transport components (TeksidAluminum).

This project aims at transforming the traditional resource-drive textile industry into a knowledge-based, sustainable and competitive industry by creating breakthrough innovation in a high tech area in technical textiles for construction. Because this area is a driver for innovation it will create significant spill-overs to other important textile technological areas such as, but not limited to, protective clothing, automotive textiles, textile for transportation #Amp; packaging, fibre reinforced structural elements, upholstery materials?. It addresses the development of radically new concepts and new knowledge in multi-functional technical textiles materials using nanotechnology, nano-structured materials and bio-mimic principles. Following a holistic approach, this project aims at developing a breakthrough in textile architecture, lightweight textile reinforced structures and tension fabric structures industry (textile buildings for short). Building with textiles has an industrial potential, the like of which we only expect for the building material glass. The technology which will be developed in this project will lead to textile buildings of the future which will combine creativity and aesthetics with multi-functional, resource-conserving materials utilization, short construction periods, long life and low costs and will lead to a new building technology for safe, healthy and comfortable shelters. The research will focus on the development of lightweight walls and façade elements, lightweight but strong textile cables and belts, thick and thin wall textile materials which provide protection against rain, wind, provide thermal insulation, noise insulation.

The pressure caused from the Asiatic and American competitors, in terms of volume manufacturing, forces the European automotive industry to continuously promote the development of cost efficient-innovative vehicles, with high-added customer value, increased personalization capabilities and environmental sustainability. Main objective of the FUTURA IP is to develop vehicle production setups of the future, by integrating cost validated, up to proof-of-concept level, production technologies of MFMs, reducing at the same time manufacturing costs up to 25% and ensuring key production attributes: TTM efficiency, flexibility, robustness and environmental sustainability. A straight forward, objective-driven research approach, will be utilised, based on the scheme: Specifications?Technology Development?Technology Integration?Technology Validation?Technology Exploitation. The FUTURA Factory will result as the outcome of integrating MFMs and related processing/production techniques in production setups for manufacturing body modules and a flexible vehicle chassis structure consisting of 4 major segments. FUTURA IP will address the state of the art forming and joining processing concepts and requirements of MFMs, including sandwich materials, nano-materials, HSSs, etc. Furthermore, novel vehicle concepts that facilitate MFMs implementation will be addressed, including modular, scalable, hybrid body and chassis structures. The efficient operation of the production setups and their interrelation will be based on production simulation and control. Vehicle variety, safety and environmental friendliness are the major customer/society oriented perspectives to be addressed as well. The consortium embraces major stakeholders of the European automotive industry, i.e. a group of OEMs, a group of material manufacturers and parts/equipment suppliers and a group of RTD partners, all well known for their expertise and infrastructure. DaimlerChrysler AG will act as the IP's Co-ordinator.'

Industrial needs in terms of multifunctionnal components are increasing. Several sectors are concerned, ranging from mature high volume markets like automotive applications, high added value parts like space & aeronautic components or even emerging activities like new technologies for energy. Also are concerned domains with a planetary impact like environment and new products and functions for health and safety of people. Nanotechnologies could play a key role in promoting innovation in design and realisation of multifunctional products for the future, either by improving usual products or creating new functions and new products. Nevertheless, this huge evolution of the industry of materials could only happen if the main technological and economic challenges are solved with reference to the societal acceptance. Those concern the mastering, over the whole life cycle of the products, of the potential risks, by an integration of the elaboration channels, while taking into account recycling. The general objective of the project is the safe, integrated and controlled production of high-tech multifunctional nano-structured products including their recycling, and ensuring competitiveness. It means that i) all along the production sequence, no nanoparticle release will be encountered. This includes synthesis, recovery (direct liquid recovery), conditioning (advanced granulation), processing and handling; ii) the whole production sequence will consist in linking in a safe way existing or emerging elementary processes (direct plasma spraying, laser 3D direct manufacturing, and powder consolidation techniques); iii) the production sequence will be controlled by innovative systems covering process efficiency, product reliability, global safety production, & traceability; iv) recyclability issues will be addressed and v) generic tools will be developed.

The main goal of PEGASUS is to develop a new and highly innovative methodology for SMEs working in the automotive industry, specifically aimed at integrating engineering and new processing concepts. It will combine state-of-the-art thermoplastics (TPs); TP composites in the polymer processing industry in a single modular system. PEGASUS will: -Develop a new Integrated Design and Engineering Environment (IDEE) based on KBE (Knowledge Based Engineering) for SMEs supplying the automotive sector. Based on existing developments in the Aerospace industry it will support the 5-day car concept and facilitate the integration of functions, processes and materials in a single industrial process. -Integrate knowledge from within the new supply chain concept allowing SMEs to co-operate and provide a quick, high-tech and customisable service directly to OEMs at a lower cost. -Provide an innovative; flexible process configuration unit on demand that combines the latest moulding technologies adapted through the IDEE to each components requirements. -Make use of nano-particles in colouring technology to avoid additional painting reducing VOCs. ·Develop disassembly on command components by expandable (nano) adhesive particles reducing disassembly times by 25%; local reinforcements using long fibre thermoplastcs; improved Pedestrian Protection reducing severe injuries by up to 10%. An IP-SME draws all of the partners from 8 EU states together in an ideal funding instrument, which would otherwise be difficult or impossible. These partners will ensure that the exploitation will be maximised across the EU. The project will demonstrate, by producing a new rear part of a Smart car, the possibilities open to a new SME intensive supply chain concept in the car manufacturing industry. It will result in an estimated 30% increase in the size of the market open to SMEs. Growth in the sector as a result of PEGASUS could be approximately 40.000 new jobs for SMEs

European Automotive industry constitutes one of the largest and dominant industries worldwide. In order to preserve its competitiveness and to give response to the rising legislative, political, social and market demands, the car makers are forced to: - Reduce manufacturing production cost - Short the product development times - Meet customer demands - Improve fuel economy and reduce pollution Compounding those challenges is an effort to reduce the delivery lead times associated with producing a built to order vehicle. The key factor to success lies in a cluster strategy that integrates the suppliers in the search and implementation of new solutions. As a consequence the players at the production level are compelled to build up cost effective and flexible processes able to meet customer demands and to short the product cycle. PROFORM is a research project that brings car manufacturers, component, tooling and equipment suppliers together with universities and research institutes for a new engineering and manufacture concept development, based in built to order system for reducing lead time and costs in producing high technology transport components for vehicle bodies The breakthough concept is based on the integration of three emerging forming technologies (roll forming RF, laser forming LF and electromagnetic forming EMF) in the frame of a simultaneous engineering and production strategy and exploiting the new capabilities in the area of new and multifunctional materials: - Micro technologies for rolls control to allow the production of complex components by RF - Ultra conductor coils and nano-reinforced resins to increase EMF efficiency - Coating/film/laminate steel to allow the production of multifunctional steel complex shape by EMF The project has a S&T multi-disciplinary nature, combining the three forming technologies with multifunctional materials, nano and micro technologies and using process simulation, optimisation and control technologi

Metrology is essential at any stage of development and production. For conventional industries (e.g. automotive), classical coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) are flexible enough that they can be delivered off the shelf for most development and process control problems. In this project, the ?CMM approach? shall be made applicable to micro- and nano-structures too. For this a Nano CMM shall be developed which is capable to measure real 3D (sub-) micrometre structures, including the today not measurable micrometric holes, undercuts, and gaps, all with 50-100 nm accuracy. Pursuing this, a number of technologies are still lacking: probes to localise points on objects with this accuracy; reference objects to calibrate Nano-CMMs; calibration facilities for nano-reference-objects, all 100 times more accurate than nowadays; specifications to purchase and to verify a machine; a means to measure inside holes with sub-micrometer radii, on steep slopes and behind obstructions; a changing capability for the probes; software suitable for feature extraction from measurements with changing probes; rules and standards concerning tolerances of nm features; concepts to find microscopic features (not breaking the probe); stable metrology frames to measure the same object with different probes in one coordinate system; concepts to estimate measurement uncertainties; and a means to inform potential users about the new technologies... this list is the work programme for the project. The NANO-CMM project team comprises about 1/3 of Europe?s nano and micro metrology research community, covering all required disciplines, particularly two manufacturers of Nano CMMs of the first generation (non real 3D ones) plus a group of end-users. This assures to achieve the critical mass to carry out the fundamental research, development, and implementations, and qualifiy staff through research, and a continuation of networking with partners and others after the project has ended.

The objective of TERAEYE is to develop an innovative range of inspecting passive systems, based on Terahertz (THz) wave detection, to detect harmful materials for homeland security. Main applications will be related to airports security systems, surveillance of crowded areas such as railway and metro stations; detection of chemical and biological harmful substances and hazards in post and goods. TERAEYE aims at a technological breakthrough in the THz sector through the development of a new fabrication process for cheap nano-fabricated 2-D matrix array of detectors that will strongly reduce the production cost of the THz sensors. These technological developments would constitute the basis for the longterm breakthrough introduction of totally new detection and scanning systems to be applied for security applications, thus opening up new market perspectives for a new set of products and services based on the passive THz detection, and thereby supporting a radical transformation in the security sector. TERAEYE has been conceived as an IP, being a large-scale industry-driven research initiative aimed at creating new applicable knowledge and integrating breakthrough technological solutions, having a strong inter-disciplinary character, in a full range of products and services. The project addresses vertical integration of the full value-chain of innovation stakeholders from the basic nanoscience-based development of the sensor through the industrial technology development, to the final product design and development. TERAEYE addresses horizontal integration as it fosters scientific multidisciplinarity (nanoscience, electronics, cryogenics, spectral imaging) and promises to trigger innovation in a variety of secondary industrial sectors.

Sensors are essential devices in today's life, for example, current vehicles can contain more than 50-60 sensors and it is foreseen that the market for automotive sensors grow to around $12bn in 2010. Contact-less technologies for sensors show the best performance properties (duration and sensitive) though their price is much higher and their industralization is much difficult because high technology equipments and installations are needed. The latest contact-less technology is based on Ballistic Magnetoresistance (BMR), a recently discovered phenomenon that shows magnetoresistance values of more than 1.000% (100 times higher than any other phenomenon observed so far) at nanocontact levels. MUNDIS project will develop an angular position contact-less sensor, using an innovative approach to BMR based on the development of Multiple Nanocontact Devices (MUNDs), which will improve performance of current contact less sensors with lower price. The sensor developed will be validated in the automotive sector, for a specific application: an accelerator pedal position sensor with these features: Durable (>10.000.000cycles), Sensitive (>800mV/V FS), Cheap (market price < 5 euros), Easy to industrialise. Integration is a key factor in the project at three different levels: .- Systems: Nanoparticles - MUND (Sensitive part of the sensor) - Angular Position Contact less sensor - Accelerator pedal position sensor. .- Technologies: micro-tech, nano-tech, magnetism, chemistry, electronics, engineering. .- Partners: ACP, SME manufacturer, will be the future mass manufacturer of the new sensor. FICOSA, automotive multinational, will integrate and validate the sensor in its accelerator pedal system. INA, university, will be mainly responsible for nanocontacs development. CSIC-LFSP, will be responsible for MUNDs development. AGH, university, will characterise the nanocontacts. IP-PRAGUE, university, will characterise MUNDs at high pressure conditions.