The SAMARIS project was planned in response to the European Commission's call for proposals addressing Task 2.2.1/18 'Road infrastructure materials' of Key Action 'Sustainable Mobility and Intermodality' under the GROWTH part of the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. It merges two separate proposals, one (MAP) about materials used in highway pavements and another (STRIM) about innovative materials used for maintenance of highway concrete structures. The contract was signed by the Commission on the 25th of November 2002. Project commencement date was the 1st of January 2003 and the duration of the project is 36 months. The societal needs that are specifically targeted in the project are to support the EU policy on sustainable development, waste management and energy efficiency and, as a specific issue under task 2.2.1/18, the challenge of finding optimal repair strategies for a large number of critical concrete structures on the main road networks in CE countries as well as in some EEA countries. In this inception report are the original plans for project SAMARIS reviewed, reworked and specified so as to provide a complete and comprehensive activity guide for all 23 partners in the project consortium as well as for the European Commission, the national authorities who have provided the supplementary funding, and for the reference group of end users. The report was part of the work of Work Packages 2 and 12, based on contributions from all