A process for the production of strongly adherent coatings on an inorganic or organic substrate is provided, wherein in a first step a) a low temperature plasma, a corona discharge or a flame is caused to act on the inorganic or organic substrate, in a second step b) one or more photoinitiators or mixtures of photoinitiators with monomers, containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, or solutions, suspensions or emulsions of the afore-mentioned substances, are applied at normal pressure to the inorganic or organic substrate, in a third step c) using suitable methods those afore-mentioned substances are dried and irradiated with electromagnetic waves and, optionally, in a fourth step d1) the substrate so pretreated is provided with a coating and the coating is cured or dried.