HERO-M - Hierarchic Engineering of Industrial Materials – the performance of industry-relevant materials will be determined by engineering design over various length scales. The most important scientific challenge consists of fixing the correlation between structure and properties on the basis of fundamental principles rather than the chiefly empirical methods currently used. The most important engineering challenge is to improve the basic methods and adapt them to industrial use as well as using these to develop materials in an industrial environment. The Center involves important Swedish materials industries such as steel and hard metal producers, plus specialised software and development companies.