1. 1 New Materials, Surfaces and Sensing Applications Novel Functional Materials Intelligent Materials Surface Functionalisation Nanomaterials and Nanocoatings New Sensor Devices

2. 2 Challenges and Opportunities Wide range of technological, scientific and economic opportunities Novel materials enable innovation in a large number of applications Collaborations between public and private research sectors Technology transfer, spin-offs, start-ups Solutions to environmental and health-related issues (e.g. replacement of toxic materials)

3. 3 Application-oriented Material Research materials with tailored properties or specific functionalities based on composites, polymers, ceramics, metals, alloys, semi-conductors etc. production processes, engineering and bonding technologies must be co-developed durability, health issues and recycling properties have to be considered modelling and simulation are important tools strong industrial partners as enhancers

4. 4 Surfaces in Interaction with their Environment The functionality of a material is often determined by its surface properties! techniques for the modification and processing of surfaces technologies for the analysis and characterisation of material surfaces properties of bulk material should also be considered

5. 5 Nanotechnology: Material Design at an Atomic Scale gain robust knowledge of the relationship between structure and property take safety aspects into account Nanostructured materials, surfaces or coatings allow for the exploitation of new physical and chemical effects. Applications: catalysts energy conversion and storage pharmaceutics electronics / sensors

6. 6 New Sensing Devices New materials will support the development of new sensing devices based on new sensing effects and phenomena. very high market potential improvement of safety, performance and comfort in various applications networks of miniaturised sensors for decentralised monitoring applications based on various material classes and technologies (microelectronics, nanotechnologies, MEMS)