In previous framework programmes, research and technical development work was either in the form of development of generic parts of instruments, or development of particular instruments (or types of instrument). For NMI3 we considered that proposals to develop and build specific instruments would be of direct benefit to users, and easily defined in terms of deliverables, but they would only benefit one or two specific facilities (where they were built), offering a relatively small gain on a European scale. The development of generic parts of instruments, on the other hand, offers a much bigger potential overall gain, the individual gains often having a multiplicative effect and being applicable to a significant proportion of the European instrument park. The topics chosen were established through the priorities set by the individual facilities.

In the Joint Research Activities a particular effort has been made to spread participation evenly across the larger facilities, and to include other laboratories and countries with smaller facilities (Greece, Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic), while at the same time maintaining the scientific quality and coherence.

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