Final report on Key Enabling Technologies - European Commission ...

There is a common understanding among the HLG and EU stakeholders that KETs are of crucial
importance to the European economy, its future competitiveness and its capability to face grand
societal challenges. As demonstrated by the HLG, they underpin European value chains in strategic
areas and accelerate innovation in our industrial base.
The HLG has examined the major policy areas which influence the successful implementation of
the three pillar bridge strategy. Whilst many policy areas reviewed in this KETs exercise impact the
KETs landscape in Europe, the High Level Group has decided to focus on a small number of areas
which require specific and urgent attention HLG. The recommendations are grouped under the
following headings:
4.1. A single KETs and fully-fledged innovation policy at EU level
4.2. A comprehensive strategic approach to a KETs policy at EU level
4.3. Combined financing to promote RDI investments in KETs
4.4. Globally competitive IP Policy
4.5. Education and skills
4.6. Follow up
4.1. A SInglE And fUllY-flEdgEd KETS InnoVATIon polICY AT EU lEVEl
o an integrated KETs policy at EU-level
For Europe to succeed in the deployment of KETs in EU industries, to maintain its global technological leadership
in the coming years, a single integrated KETs policy has to be implemented, that supports the development and
explotation of KETs accross the value chain from science to market deployment and which recognises the importance
of facilitating the integration of KETs, which in essential to create technology-based products and services.
For such a policy to succeed, it is vital to position KETs as a technological priority for Europe and to align the EU's
main political and financial instruments in the next financial perspective consistently with the goals of EU 2020 to
achieve this goal. In particular this must be reflected in the upcoming Common Strategic Framework for Research
and Innovation Financing, Horizon 2020 (CSF), the instruments related to the EU's Regional Policy and the policies of
the European Investment Bank group.
Such policy coordination would reverse current trends and make the EU attractive for KETs industry and investors in
competitive manufacturing facilities, generating growth and jobs for Europe.
More precisely, the following should be envisaged:
- A distinct “KETs box” should be established within the CSF Competitiveness Programme, to enable common
and integrated calls for all KETs with KETs specific rules in the calls, such as value chain correctness, etc. ;
- KETs should be identified as a clear investment priority for regions within the ESF and the ERDF Research and
Innovation category notably in the context of the concept of smart specialisation;
- The EIB/EIF should pro-actively support KETs-related projects through its financial instruments and clearly
identify such RDI and manufacturing projects, with a KETs label, in line with Commission policy.
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Recommendation n°1: Make KETs a technological priority for Europe
The High Level Group recommends that an integrated KETs policy should be implemented, that KETs should
be visibly prioritised in EU policies and financial instruments and that the European Investment Bank group
should pro-actively support KETs initiatives in Europe.