THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE ORIGINS, PROGRESS, AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FAMOS INITIATIVE, A LEADING EUROPEAN 17-NATION COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EUREKA. EUREKA WAS ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE AND COORDINATE EUROPEAN R&D ACTIVITIES ON A SCALE TO COMBAT THE INCREASING THREAT TO THEIR INDUSTRIES FROM PACIFIC BASIN COUNTRIES AND THE USA. FAMOS FOCUSES ON THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS OF INDUSTRY-LED R&D PROJECTS RELATED TO FLEXIBLE AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY. IT ADDRESSES REAL PRODUCTS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, AND THE RETENTION OF A BROAD-BASED EUROPEAN MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY.