The state of the art analysis and methodological assumptions of evaluation and development prediction for materials surface technologies

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to present an analysis of the state of the art including the general development trends and most prospective areas of materials surface engineering and to describe the general methodological concept for the evaluation and prediction of materials surface technology development, with special consideration given to methods for generating a pool of critical materials surface technologies. Design/methodology/approach: The paper was prepared by reviewing the international literature devoted to the latest trends in materials surface engineering and discusses the general methodological assumptions for the research conducted under the technology foresight of materials surface engineering. Findings: Presentation of the most important trends, directions and areas of materials surface engineering and of the general methodology for the evaluation and prediction of materials surface technology development. Research limitations/implications: The state of the art analysis and the methodology presented form constituent part of the technology foresight of materials surface engineering. Practical implications: One of the final effects of the technology foresight of materials surface engineering is to establish the Critical Technologies Book comprising technology roadmaps and technology information sheets. The Book is characterising, in a harmonised fashion, the critical materials surface technologies, which is a convenient tool of comparative analysis, especially for SMEs lacking the funds sufficient to pursue their own research in this field. Originality/value: The paper is presenting the general development trends and most prospective areas of materials surface engineering and an original, newly established customs, methodological concept for the evaluation and prediction of materials surface engineering development.