Prof. Paula M. Vilarinho, President of the Federation of European Materials Societies (FEMS), participated in the 3rd meeting of the
European Commission’s Technology Council for Advanced Materials, held on April 14 in Brussels. Her presence at this high-level forum highlights the active role of the European materials community in shaping future policy directions for one of Europe’s most critical technological domains.
During the meeting, Prof. Vilarinho presented the main outcomes of the FAME Workshop — Future of Advanced Materials in Europe — a major stakeholder event held in Aveiro in November 2025.
The conclusions of this workshop are directly informing the development of the forthcoming Advanced Materials Act, a key European policy initiative.
A central message emerging from the FAME report is clear: Europe’s main bottleneck in advanced materials is no longer research excellence, but rather the capacity for industrial scale-up and deployment. To address this challenge, five strategic priorities were identified:
* Development of scale-up infrastructure
* Expansion of blended finance mechanisms
* Creation of application-driven ecosystems
* Regulatory simplification
* Stronger co-creation with Member States
These priorities align closely with FEMS’ mission to foster collaboration across academia, industry, and policy, ensuring that
Scientific advances translate into real-world impact.
Prof. Vilarinho’s participation in the Council, where she was also introduced in her capacity as FEMS President, underscores the growing recognition of the materials community as a key stakeholder in European technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
FAME Workshop Report
The full report of the workshop is now available:
Future of Advanced Materials in Europe (FAME): Overcoming Barriers to Uptake, Deployment, and Scale-up
Author: Paula M. Vilarinho
Edition: Universidade de Aveiro, 1st edition – April 2026
ISBN: 978-989-9253-60-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48528/qem4-6p65
In addition, the presentation delivered at the 3rd meeting of the European Commission’s Technology Council is available:
FAME Workshop – Key Messages for the European Technology Council
Author: Paula M. Vilarinho
These materials provide valuable insights for stakeholders across the European advanced materials ecosystem, particularly in the context of the upcoming Advanced Materials Act.
By contributing directly to discussions at the European Commission level, FEMS is helping to ensure that the voice of the materials science and engineering community is heard in the design of future policies.
This engagement underscores the importance of coordinated European action in accelerating innovation, enhancing industrial resilience, and securing leadership in advanced materials.
The involvement of FEMS leadership in such strategic forums marks an important step in bridging science, policy, and industry
implementation across Europe.