This project has been divided into six inter-related work packages which will be investigated by the consortium step by step. Each work package has one lead organisation and several participant institutes.

The high quality of the infrastructure and the depth of experience of the consortium will further strengthen its capability to achieve the ultimate goal. The inter-disciplinary cooperation characteristics of the European and Asian organisations and their strong international collaborations are advantageous for successful establishment of the key enabling techniques that will benefit the niche areas of functional surfaces metrology, characterisation, fabrication and application.

All the partners will contribute to the related research work packages briefly described below:

WP1 Setup of knowledge base and road mapping

This work package focuses on the analysis of individual user needs, the demands for the design and fabrication technologies of functional surfaces in terms of wettability, adhesion and reflectivity, and evaluates and assesses various relevant methodologies. A systematic review and interviews with selected users from various industrial sectors will be conducted and a knowledge base of end-users and their requirements will be setup. The survey and review will result in recommendations for new methodologies for FabSurfWAR. Based on the analysis of the individual user needs, a knowledge base will be built for further exploitation. The beneficiaries/partner organisations involved in this WP have experience and knowledge in surface modelling and characterisation, functional surface fabrication technologies and their potential applications. WP1 will be led by the University of Warwick (UoW).

WP2 Surface modelling and characterisation

This work package focuses on the development of innovative and advanced techniques that are utilized to measure and characterise the functional surfaces and to establish the key enabling technique for high fidelity and efficient metrology. The functional surfaces exhibited by some soil-burrowing insects for their anti-adhesion/anti-contamination performances will be studied and the advanced knowledge between the surface topography and the wettability will be established. The theoretical models for the patterned surface with multiscale features will be investigated for developing the controllable wettability surfaces, conducting the modelling and characterisation of functional surfaces and to establish the relationship between surface features and the functional performance. WP2 package will be led by the University of Oldenburg (UOld).

WP3 Micro/nano fabrication of functional surfaces

This work package focuses on the development of innovative and advanced techniques for micro/nano-fabrication of functional surfaces. It will study in detail: (1) Femeto/nano-laser texturing on metal and other material surfaces. (2) FIB fabrication of patterned surfaces in SEM. (3) Mechanical machining technologies including milling, turning, grinding, as well as the Wire Electric Discharge Machining (WEDM). (4) Surface coating/modification technologies for further improvement. The durable functional surfaces on metal material will be prepared for the potential applications. A reliable approach for generating functional surface by using UV laser ablation/ micro-modification on a large scale of manufacturing will be targeted. The strategies and methodologies for the controllable wettability and adhesion and reflectivity will be investigated. WP3 will be led by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

WP4 Functional surface devices and testing

This work package focuses on the development of the techniques for potential applications of functional surfaces. It will explore in detail: (1) Functional surface condensation, the effects of the wettability on the condensation performance and the surface patterns will be systematically investigated. The key enabling techniques for durable and efficient condensation device design and optimization will be targeted. (2) Anti-adhesive agriculture devices will be investigated, this includes bionic anti-adhesion and anti-resistance theory and technology of terrain machines, biologically self-cleaning functions and their bionics for agricultural machines. (3) Bacterial adhesion and colonisation will be studied on proposed functional surfaces, and the effects of the wettability of the substrate on the bacteria growth rate will be examined. (4) Efforts will be made on medical surgery tools with self-cleaning and anti-reflectivity. WP4 will be led by Tampere University of Technology (TUT).

WP5 Dissemination and exploitation

This work package focuses on the dissemination and exploitation of the project results. The dissemination will be implemented through FabSurfWAR public events/workshops and publications including patents, journal & conference papers, reports and the media. Each partner will have at least one publication on average each year, giving more than 36 publications in total. The consortium has a target of at least 3 patent applications during the project period. WP5 will be led by the University of Birmingham (UoB).

WP6 Project management

This work package concerns all the management aspects of the project by monitoring of progress towards the ultimate objectives, identifying shortcomings and recommending remedial action where necessary. The coordinator will oversee action plans and monitor their timely execution, within the given resources. All IPR issues will be dealt with carefully. The consortium members will meet every six months to report project progress. Regular joint workshops and seminars with the attendance of all beneficiaries / partner organisations will be convened every 12 months. During these workshops and seminars, attendees will share the experience and knowledge acquired in the joint research and training activities. Besides the regular consortium workshops and seminars, other workshops and seminars will be organised in both Europe and Asia for the local exchanged staff. WP6 will be led by UoW.