ERA-NET on manufacturing technologies supporting industry and particularly SMEs in the global competition

Deadline: Jan 21, 2016  
CALL EXPIRED

Topic Description

Pooling resources can foster the competitiveness of Europe’s advanced manufacturing industry, by the co-funding of manufacturing research projects performed by transnational consortia involving enterprises and their strategic partners. A strategic and industry relevant approach is needed in order to address key manufacturing priorities, covering the entire value chains and gathering national and regional research and innovation capacities, thereby mobilising all relevant European stakeholders and in particular SMEs.

The proposed ERA-NET aims to coordinate the research and innovation efforts of the participating Member States, Associated States and Regions in the field of advanced manufacturing, continuing the activities started by MANUNET and followed by MANUNET II, supporting in particular SMEs and with a special focus on the key areas of new production processes, adaptive manufacturing systems and technologies for the factory of the future, and to implement a joint transnational call for proposals (resulting in grants to third parties) with EU co-funding to support multi-national innovative research initiatives in this domain.

Coordination with the relevant players at European level such as those in the Factories of the Future cPPP and relevant European Technology Platforms is expected and the strong involvement in the transnational projects of SMEs with innovation potential is encouraged.

International cooperation on R&I issues on manufacturing at global level should be properly addressed and the potential participation in the proposed ERA-NET of regions from third countries with local funding programmes on manufacturing is encouraged.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 8 and 10 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

No more than one action will be funded.

Prospective participant organisations should note that the impact of this ERA-NET could be enhanced by using resources coming through the European Structural and Investment Funds (provided that the appropriate policy measures together with the corresponding national contribution for them have been foreseen in the relevant Operational Programme). In such a case, participants should understand that ESI Funds cannot replace partly or wholly the expected national contribution(s) for matching the expected Horizon 2020 grant. However ESI Funds (together with national funds) can be used for enhancing the impact of the ERA-NET mobilising additional national funds for this purpose.

• Synergies and coherence in key fields of advanced manufacturing research at national and regional level;
• Input to strategy and policy in the domain of advanced manufacturing
• Creation of a sustainable cooperation structures at regional, national and transnational level supporting research and innovation in key priority areas of the manufacturing sector in Europe.