Manufuture: A European Technology Platform

MANUFUTURE (www.manufuture.org): The Technology Platform on Future Manufacturing Technologies

MANUFUTURE Europe - Strategic Research Agenda (December 2005) Executive Summary
 
MANUFUTURE Europe - A vision for 2020 (November 2004)

Mission

To propose a strategy based on research and innovation, capable of speeding up the rate of industrial transformation in Europe, securing high added value employment and winning a major share of world manufacturing output in the future knowledge-driven economy.

Objectives

To develop a "research and innovation" strategy based on a long term vision for a field where there are many technological and economic variables and in consequence to assist the transformation of the European manufacturing industry towards a knowledge-based economy and the achievement of a world leadership in manufacturing.

To identify aspects of technological research and innovation with high potential for breakthroughs that could be only achieved at a European level. 

To co-ordinate EU and national, regional and local R&D Programmes to reach a critical mass, to avoid overlaps and to develop a long term strategy where RTD activities will be a core element, but also where education and training will be priorities.

Role

To govern research, technological development and innovation (RTDI) efforts aimed at the transformation of the European manufacturing industry at two levels: 

• A policy level aimed at continuous development of the MANUFUTURE vision and promotion of the Lisbon objectives
• An operational level employing a technological approach exploiting all possible synergies arising from the converging nature of science and technologies. 

The technological approach should begin by addressing common problems or bottlenecks faced by the sectoral platforms.