Clusters
The EUROPEAN MATERIALS CHARACTERISATION COUNCIL (EMCC)
Characterisation is a central pillar across the spectrum from research development via engineering and upscaling to production and product quality control. A survey of 100 FP7 projects carried out in 2014 under the umbrella of the Engineering & Upscaling Cluster clearly demonstrated the central role of characterisation. Over 90% of projects apply characterisation methods and 50% of projects include characterisation developments. Characterisation was ranked by far the highest in terms of importance of engineering and upscaling with an average across all projects of 9/10, compared to averages of below 7/10 for modelling and standardisation for example. A lot of these projects however have a weak link to the impact required by the EC, with little tangible output in relation to commercial exploitation or reliable recommendations to regulation.
The European NanoSafety Cluster
The EU NanoSafety Cluster is a DG RTD NMP initiative to maximise the synergies between the existing FP6 and FP7 projects addressing all aspects of nanosafety including toxicology, ecotoxicology, exposure assessment, mechanisms of interaction, risk assessment and standardisation.
Participation in the NanoSafety cluster is voluntary for projects that commenced prior to April 2009, and is compulsory for nano-EHS projects started since April 2009.
The terms of reference of the NanoSafety Cluster define its role and are included as an appendix to all new projects.
The European Materials Modelling Council 
The European materials modelling council (EMMC) is a community driven bottom-up action to connect all existing material modelling activities in Europe.
The activities within the EMMC are organized within teams or working groups that are focused on specific goals. Each working group is responsible to develop its mission and charter which are published on the public site (http://emmc.info).
Each EMMC working group has an OTM and vice OTM appointed from among the active members. The OTM’s are elected by each working group.
The European Carbon Fibre Technology Cluster
Bringing together EU funded projects, Industries, Research Organisations and SMEs to tackle research and industrial challenges in synergy, drive research policies, ultimately increasing the impact on European competitiveness in the Carbon Fibres domain.
The European Engineering and Upscaling Cluster
Enginering & Upscaling is any activity that is required to take a technology to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) required for commercial products in the relevant markets.
Fragmentation in Europe is seen as a key barrier to fulfilling the potential of engineering & upscaling in industry and a barrier to the uptake of promising results. In 2014, the European Commission RTD Unit in "Advanced Materials and Nanotechnologies" therefore launched a cluster initiative with the following aims.
- Probe current activities for completeness and identify gaps.
- Help projects to support their individual and common innovation and exploitation activities.
- Identify obstacles to engineering & upscaling and pathways to overcome them.
- Support policy making.