The innovative production machines and systems network of excellence

Manufacturing is a significant wealth generation sector, accounting for over 20% of the European Union’s (EU’s) gross domestic product. To compete successfully in the global market, the European manufacturing industry needs to be underpinned by well focused advanced production research. Because of the breadth of the field, commercial considerations, and the multinationalism of the EU, production research activities within it have been naturally fragmented. There is the potential to coordinate precompetitive research for common benefit. Under its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the EU has introduced networks of excellence as a new “instrument” to overcome fragmentation of European research and help shape the conduct of research in Europe. The operation of these networks is based on a joint program of activities aimed principally D.T. Pham Cardiff University, UK