725 The Innovative Production Machines and Systems Network of Excellence D.T. Pham Cardiff University, UK E.E. Eldukhuri Cardiff University, UK A. Soroka Cardiff University, UK V. Zlatanov Cardiff University, UK M.S. Packiananther Cardiff University, UK R. Setchi Cardiff University, UK P.T.N. Pham Cardiff University, UK A. Thomas Cardiff University, UK Y. Dadam Cardiff University, UK I IntroductIon This article presents the essence of the Innovative Pro- duction Machines and Systems (I*PROMS) Network of Excellence. It gives the rationale for networks of excel- lence, outlines the scope and structure of I*PROMS, and summarizes its program of activities. tHe I*proMs network oF eXcellence The EU FP6 network of excellence for Innovative Production Machines and Systems (I*PROMS) was inaugurated in October 2004. I*PROMS integrates the production research activities of 30 research centers from 14 countries in Europe: MEC, Cardiff Univer- sity (UK) (coordinator), Profactor (Austria), Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), VTT (Finland), CETIM (France), ENIT (France), INRIA (France), Robosoft (France), IAO Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), IPA Fraunhofer Institute (Ger- many), IPK Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), Schneider Electric (Germany), TUC (Germany), University of Hannover (Germany), University of Patras (Greece), Dublin City University (Ireland), CRF (Italy), FIDIA (Italy), University of Naples Federico II (Italy), PIAP (Poland), University of Minho (Portugal), Fatronik (Spain), Tekniker (Spain), TNO (The Netherlands), Sakarya University (Turkey), University of Warwick (UK), University of Cambridge (UK), University of Manchester (UK), University of Newcastle (UK), and University of Oxford (UK). I*PROMS addresses production research in an integrated manner to help shape this research area and overcome fragmentation. By creating an EU-wide research community concentrating on future manufac- turing concepts, processes, and systems, I*PROMS acts as the main research hub within the EU for the whole area of production machines and systems. ratIonale For networks oF eXcellence Manufacturing is a significant wealth generation sector, accounting for over 20% of the European Union's (EU's) gross domestic product. To compete successfully in the global market, the European manufacturing industry needs to be underpinned by well focused advanced production research. Because of the breadth of the field, commercial considerations, and the multinationalism of the EU, production research activities within it have been naturally fragmented. There is the potential to coordinate precompeti- tive research for common benefit. Under its Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), the EU has introduced networks of excellence as a new "instrument" to over- come fragmentation of European research and help shape the conduct of research in Europe. The opera- tion of these networks is based on a joint program of activities aimed principally at integrating the research activities of the network partners while also advancing knowledge on the topic. Copyright © 2008, IGI Global, distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited.