IMS2020 aims at strengthening international co-operation and supporting global European-centric research under the IMS initiative, providing an effective interface to ongoing European roadmapping activities (such as European Technology Platform, etc.) and creating research synergies at international level through establishment of inter-regional manufacturing communities in the five Key Areas of Activity of IMS. Thanks to the coordination action the following IMS2020 Objectives will be achieved: 1. To prepare a coherent roadmap for future (2020) manufacturing research in the five IMS Key Areas 2. To identify new schemes & frameworks to support IMS research by enhancing and favouring inter-regional cooperation projects 3. To identify specific SME-focused measures to increase SMEs participation in international R&D co-operative projects, within IMS initiative 4. To establish and consolidate international and inter-regional communities in the Key Areas of Activity of IMS, with effective exchange of results and knowledge 5. To prepare the ground for new IMS proposals, both paving the way for the legislation and creating a knowledge network, to discuss and inform about manufacturing projects The first objective will be achieved by mid of 2009, delivering the roadmap, structured into specific sections that address individually the five IMS Key Areas and addressing specific IMS level research topics. The IMS2020 Consortium combines together industries, industrial associations, research centres and universities coming from all IMS Regions (EU, Switzerland, USA, Korea, Japan). The IMS2020 project will benefit from the heritage of the successful initiative IMS NoE, coordinated by Politecnico di Milano.