Over three years, the NanoCharM project has been:

• Providing an effective and stimulating platform for scientists, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and end-users to foster, develop and promote communication, education, networking, dissemination of knowledge, research and innovations in the characterization of multifunctional nanomaterials and their applications
• promoting and improving communication between the ellipsometry community and end users of nonanomaterials in order to identify common problems and facilitate their solution, through a serious of meetings, workshops, and participation in industrial events
• educating researchers and companies in the use and potential of ellipsometry/polarimetry techniques, through a series of schools, and allowing access to facilities, instruments and competencies in NanoCharM labs around Europe, including the BESSY synchrotron radiation facility in Berlin.
• facilitating technology transfer between academia and SMEs, providing training through customized tutorials, on and off-site
• facilitating access by multidisciplinary scientists and SMEs to ellipsometry/polarimetry techniques
• encouraging the participation of emerging economies and developing countries in the EU NMP theme of FP7, enabling access by them to advanced knowledge, and starting courses in surface science and optical characterisation in their countries
• widening awareness through the collection of the latest research/technology information from the ellipsometry/polarimetry community, and its distribution to science and industry through online news bulletins, original reports, roadmaps and booklets, and establishing an online NanoCharM Library to facilitate access by young scientists, nanomaterials producers and end-users to the latest information