The funding of research and development by the European Union has been implemented through Framework Programmes since 1984. These four year programmes are proposed and implemented by the European Commission.

EU research funding provides for measures that support the scientific and technological bases of industry and encourage its international competitiveness.

There has been an increasing trend of support for research in the area of nanotechnology and nanosciences, as it is recognised that this is vital for the economic dynamism of Europe.

The Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006), was conceived at the Lisbon Summit of March 2000, when European heads of state and governments set the ambitious objective of Europe becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world with creating a European Research Area with a coordinated research policy and better integration of research capabilities.

Following the principle of subsidiarity, it focuses on topics of European significance, and supports projects involving cooperation between partners from several different European countries. Nanotechnology and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices (NMP) has been chosen as one of seven thematic priorities in the FP6 programme for 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area'.