The field of medical biomaterials has recently developed a major growth potential as the demand for cardiovascular, orthopaedic as well as dental implant devices is tremendously increasing worldwide. The ageing of Europe's population will be a crucial challenge for the 21st century. Furthermore there are specific problems concerning RTD resources and capabilities existing in the Third countries (Western Balkan, Newly Independent States) having been isolated and excluded from the cooperation with EU, their networking works rather on regional level. INCOMAT contributes to eliminate these deficiencies and will create cooperation teams of excellence with experts from EU, Third countries and US. The 15 project partners from 10 countries bring in their experiences and share their knowledge and competencies from different biomaterial related surface technology fields. Scientists from NIS and WBC will gain access to the European research community and the EU market as well as to international R&D trends, strategies and innovation systems.

The EU biomaterial scene will get the chance to identify new, to date unknown scientific resources in the NIS and WBC countries and unused "treasures" for further industrial exploitation. The four newly established multidisciplinary Teams of Excellence for Bone Tissue Engineering, Bioactive and biomimetic coatings, In-vitro and in-vivo testing and Quality assurance develop new approaches for future RTD strategies under the FP7 ; five high-level RTD projects will be selected for later submission in suitable FP7 calls. As special highlight the common European Conference "BIOMATERIAL SURFACES 2008" will be organized and carried out in Erfurt/D, Autumn 2008. This event will involve the experiences and best practices of all partners made in the INCOMAT project. These results will be offered to a wider audience of science and economy in Europe with a strong focus on WBS and NIS countries.