What is M2i?
The key message of M2i is that high-tech materials are vitally important in many industrial sectors and crucial for creating a sustainable society. M2i will lead to the development of new materials that will stimulate economic growth in the market sectors involved and help tackle a number of societal problems.
Market domains
Industry is strongly committed to M2i because the future success of many market sectors depends on breakthroughs in materials technology. Basically, new and innovative materials are a crucial factor in achieving sustainable competitiveness and outstanding business results in almost all industrial sectors. Working in close consultation with industry and academia, eight market sectors have been chosen in which materials play a key role in business opportunities. These sectors are aerospace, automotive, maritime, materials production, medical devices, professional & consumer products, energy & power systems and civil industry. Although the value drivers for economic growth and cost reduction vary widely due to the considerable differences in the fields of application, they have much in common in terms of research and development needs.
Societal themes
In today’s industrial sector there is an undeniable trend towards greater sustainability in both products and production techniques. This trend towards ‘greening’ our society demonstrates that economic prosperity and sustainability can go hand in hand. What is more, the same breakthroughs in materials technology that are required to stimulate economic growth can also contribute to solving a number of contemporary societal problems. It goes without saying that a vital and innovative economy is a prerequisite for a sustainable society, and vice versa. The ultimate goal is to provide long-term, highly functional and competitive solutions to issues involving energy, the environment, mobility, safety & security, health care and water – solutions which can reduce our ecological footprint and make our society more sustainable.
European centre of excellence
The strategic decision to focus on achieving international growth will attract more European universities and companies to participate in M2i. International participation in transnational (Eureka clusters) and EC Platforms (JTIs, ETPs, PPPs, FP7) as well as interaction with EIT/KICs (climate, energy, ICT) will provide a stimulus in this regard. International researchers, together with European universities and industrial partners, will transform M2i into a European hot spot for materials technology with an international reputation. M2i will attract top-level partners from abroad to guarantee a world-class program for innovation.
M2i's vision
M2i is the world-class institute for fundamental and applied research in the fields of structural and functional materials. Working closely together with top-level academic and industrial partners, we deliver new materials to promote economic growth in our industrial sector and help bring about a more sustainable society.
M2i's mission
To help renew industry and society in a sustainable way with new materials.
