The role of energy in the modern world goes beyond mere technology and economics to influence welfare, the environment, the quality of life and, in broad terms, civilization itself. Since the industrial revolution, energy conservation technology has been at the forefront of the innovation required to satisfy the needs of mankind and, more than any other, this technology has always depended on the performance of the materials used. In this, the report of the Fifth Liege Conference devoted to a review of the work of the European Materials Collaborative Programmes, the results of the programmes...