The focus is characterisation as a core tool to support upscaling and industrial exploitation of research project results and hence impact the European economy. In this context, the following themes and topics are considered:
- Lifecycle encompassing academia, end users and regulation.
- Reliability of metrology, meaning validation, calibration, standardisation, uncertainty budget, traceability, reference materials and modelling.
- Characterisation to support materials modelling: validation and data.
- Characterisation data, metadata and information management.
- Characterisation for upscaling: supporting the transition from complex testing towards accessible methods/tests for industry (“from lab to fab” approach), reduced time-to-data; linking nano-metrology with in-situ monitoring and industrial needs.
- Methods to provide reliable risk assessments and recommendations to regulators (e.g. regarding toxicity); providing a suitable background for nanosafety, biomolecular devices and applications.
A wide range of application fields includes:
Lightweight materials including composites, Hybrid and functionally graded materials, Materials for micro-/nanoelectronics and nanotechnologies, MEMS/NEMS, Industrial process control and monitoring, Therapeutic and diagnostic medical devices including implants, Emission control, Materials for energy technologies (storage, conversion) and climate change.
By elaborating on these themes the EMCC support horizontal actions towards:
- Validation of measurement procedures
- New standard reference materials
- Metrological traceability (ensures measurement results made at different times and different locations )
- Methods for the determination of particle and/or feature size to be coupled with standardized measurement techniques
- Support to legislation (guidelines for proper standardization)