The briefing highlighted the EMO MILANO 2003 Fair in Milan (21-28 October) the world's largest trade event for the machine tools, robots and automation industries, which demonstrated that advanced, intelligent manufacturing is one of Europe's key strengths in the global market. Currently, Europe dominates the global machine tool and automation markets, providing some 52% of the world-wide value of machine tool production in 2002 (Japan 20%, China 9.6% USA 6.1%) and is at the cutting edge of research and technological developments in that area. Research and innovation in machine tools, robots and automation provide a key building block for economic performance, as it provides the intelligent production capabilities to make EU manufacturing sectors more competitive.

The Commission presented key research projects in this field, such as the MANTYS network to encourage cross-sector innovation and technology transfer in manufacturing, ECOSYSTEMS to produce environment-friendly components, and MACH 21 to foster the development of "parallel kinematic", multitasking machines.

The first recommendations for a manufacturing technology action plan (MATAP) to support industry through research and innovation activities will be discussed in a conference on 'European Manufacturing of the Future: role of Research and Education for European World Leadership'. It will be hosted by Confindustria/Assolombarda in Milan in December 2003.

The event will also be an important milestone in the preparation of a Commission Communication on the role of Community industrial research programmes to sustain European leadership.

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