Third Status Report on European Technology Platforms at The
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MARCH 2007 Third Status Report At the Launch on European of FP7 Technology Platforms Interested in European research? RTD info is our quarterly magazine keeping you in touch with main developments (results, programs, events, etc.). It is available in English, French and German. A free sample copy or free subscription can be obtained from: European Commission Directorate-General for Research Information and Communication Unit B-1049 Brussels Fax (32-2) 29-58220 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/rtdinfo/index_en.html This report was compiled by a European Commission Inter-Service Group on European Technology Platforms. It provides information on the current status and planned future activities of many of the European Technology Platforms, as well as outlining progress on a number of topical horizontal issues at the start of FP7, which is expected to contribute in a decisive way to the implementation of their Strategic Research Agenda. The report does not however represent any official position of the European Commission, nor do its contents prejudge any future Commission decisions in the research area or in other areas of Community policy. EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Research Directorate C – European Research Area: Knowledge-based economy Unit C1 – European Research Area Policy European Commission Third Status Report At the Launch on European of FP7 Technology Platforms Report compiled by a Commission Inter-Service Group on European Technology Platforms March 2007 Directorate-General for Research EUR 22706 EN Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union Free phone number: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 LEGAL NOTICE: Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2007 ISBN 92-79-02529-5 © European Communities, 2007 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON WHITE CHLORINE-FREE PAPER Table of contents 1. Introduction I 2. Major developments and events in 2006 II 2.1 An evolving role for European Technology Platforms II 2.2 The Vienna conference II 2.3 The European Investment Bank meets industrial leaders III 2.4 Lead markets: A key element of a broad-based innovation IV strategy for Europe 2.5 The launch of the 7th Research Framework Programme IV 3. Implementing the Strategic Research Agenda: the 7th R&D V Framework Programme and other sources of funding 3.1 Taking account of the ETPs' strategic priorities in designing FP7 V 3.1.1 The "Cooperation" Specific Programme VI 3.1.2 Joint Technology Initiatives VIII 3.1.3 RSFF and other FP7 instruments VIII 3.2 Other sources of financing IX 4. Current issues and future developments X 4.1 Efficient management, stakeholder involvement, openness and X transparency 4.2 ETP activities and platforms at national level X 4.3 Cross-platform interactions X 4.4 The international dimension XI 4.5 Advising on innovation-related aspects XI 4.6 Emerging ETP initiatives XI 5. Concluding remarks XII Annex Detailed status reports on individual European Technology Platforms 1. Introduction The spring European Council in guidance and support to the ETPs, Brussels in March 2003 encouraged the counting on their work to better align EU European Commission to support the research priorities with industry's needs. European Research and Innovation Area by: "…creating European In order to secure implementation of Technology Platforms bringing together their SRAs, a primary objective of ETPs technological know-how, industry, is to influence industrial and research regulators, and financial institutions to policy, at EU, national and regional develop a strategic agenda for leading level, and to encourage public and technologies". private investments in R&D and innovation in key technological areas. In European Technology Platforms were addition, ETPs interact with and have a set up as stakeholder for a, led by positive impact on a wide range of other industry, with the objective of defining Community policies, such as medium to long-term research and sustainable development, health and technological objectives and laying transport, as well as on a range of down markers for achieving them. They broader societal issues. cover the whole economic value chain, ensuring that knowledge generated In practice, the positive impact of ETPs through research is transformed into is even more far-reaching: ETPs can technologies and processes, and play a role in shaping standards and in ultimately products and services. creating networks and associations at European, national and regional level; At the beginning of 2007, there are 31 they can provide significant input in ETPs up and running, spanning a wide identifying and overcoming unnecessary range of technologies which are key to regulatory and administrative barriers to Europe’s growth and competitiveness. commercialising the results of research Each of these ETPs has brought in Europe; and they can contribute to the together relevant stakeholders, definition of future education and reached consensus on a common training needs to help ensure the vision and established (and in some effective implementation of the cases already revised) a Strategic technologies developed. Research Agenda (SRA). The European Commission has provided -I- 2. Major developments and events in 2006 2.1 An evolving role for European lead-markets. In this context, it will Technology Platforms conduct, after a public consultation including in particular the The role of the European Technology Technology Platforms and the Platforms can go beyond definition and Europe INNOVA innovation panels, implementation of a strategic research a detailed analysis of potential agenda for their specific technology or barriers to the take-up of new sector. In the so-called "Aho Report", technologies in a limited number of the Independent Expert Group on R&D areas. In parallel, using this appointed after the informal European experience, the Commission will Council in Hampton Court identified prepare a comprehensive lead- ETPs as a “key organisational markets strategy." innovation in the creation and exploitation of innovation-friendly The role of European Technology markets”1. The report concluded that Platforms has thus evolved: from “technology platforms form an effective defining strategic priorities for research vehicle for the course of action that we and development at European level to propose, allowing flexible use of contributing to set the framework under resources and the opportunity to which these investments will provide combine market creation and higher returns for the European technological development”. economy and society. This role will likely be strengthened in the near future. The recent decision on FP7, as agreed by the Parliament and the Council, 2.2 The Vienna Conference confirms that: A major Conference on ETPs4 "European Technology Platforms organised in May 2006 in Vienna during (ETPs) and the envisaged Joint the Austrian presidency, brought Technology Initiatives (JTIs) are together a wide range of stakeholders. particularly relevant for industrial At the conference, a consensus research … ETPs help the emerged that: stakeholders establish long-term strategic research agendas and · European Technology Platforms are can further evolve to represent an providing a valuable framework for important mechanism for fostering addressing ways to boost Europe’s European competitiveness.”2 competitiveness via research and innovation; In a recent Commission Communication outlining a broad- · The European Commission should based innovation strategy for the EU, continue and reinforce its open the role of European Technology coordination role into the future. Platforms to contribute to a new lead 3 The Conference also reacted positively market initiative has been outlined : to the suggestion of the European "The Commission will test in 2007 Commissioner for Science and a strategy to facilitate the Research, Mr Janez Potocnik, that emergence of innovation friendly European Technology Platforms would 1 Report of the Independent Expert Group on R&D and Innovation appointed following the Hampton Court Summit: ‘Creating an Innovative Europe’, January 2006 (page 25). 2 Decision 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006, published in OJ L 412 of 30.12.2006 (page 1). 3 COM (2006)502 of 13.9.2006; "Road map for a more innovative Europe", Action 9 4 cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/seminar_en.html -II- extend their role to take a proactive potential sources of public and private approach to overcome barriers to funding. In this regard, FP7 should be innovation in Europe. ETPs could be recognised as only one, amongst a key in identifying what needs to be range, of potential sources of funding; done in relation to regulation, · ETPs should develop effective standardisation and public procurement. governance structures which are The Conference sought to identify ways flexible and adaptable