The invention relates to a process for the production of strongly adherent coatings on an inorganic or organic substrate, 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 defined photoinitiators or mixtures of defined photoinitiators with monomers, containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, or solutions, suspensions or emulsions of the afore-mentioned substances, are applied, preferably at normal pressure, to the inorganic or organic substrate, in a third step c) using suitable methods those afore-mentioned substances are dried and/or irradiated with electromagnetic waves and, optionally, in a fourth step d) on the substrate so pretreated is applied a further coating.