The CMA Strategy
The strategy of the Network starts from the fact that, besides the undisputed approach of developing and optimising further existing materials whose application potential is already known, there are still opportunities for the advancement of technology by the exploration of new metallic systems whose properties have hardly been explored yet. However, the potential and the resources available for an individual institution for R&D of entirely new materials have largely become sub-critical in Europe.
Therefore the strategy is:
- to start R&D more far upstream than normally can be afforded by any individual institution;
- to organise an integrated effort with the whole spectrum of research experts and tools required;
- to compensate for the declining teaching and training capacity in the field of metals in Europe by the foundation of a dedicated School;
- to provide advise and supervision by a board in which experts from industry guarantee for the aspect of industrial relevance.
The CMA consortium proposes to build an adequate number of Virtual Integrated Laboratories (VILs) covering all aspects of the plan of research via the 20 partner institutions. These VILs, integrating also a European high standard school for materials science, will be inter-related by a networking system and a decision- making system that will involve trained managers.
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