August 2004 - European Commission - Europa

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›HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS››››››››››››››››››››HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS››››››››››› Research and innovation key to growth ‘Research and Innovation – a European strategy for more growth and jobs’ was the theme of the third European Business Summit in Brussels on 11 and 12 March, an initiative of the Belgian Business Federation (FEB) the Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE), and the European Commission. More than a thousand participants from business, politics and academia met to exchange views and exert their joint influence to build a stronger, more competitive Europe. “To do more and better in research and innovation is a question of life or death for Europe,” stressed Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, opening the conference. “Europe will only meet this challenge if industry gives its full support. It’s not merely an ambition but a necessity to meet the target of investing 3% of GDP on R&D by 2010 – with two-thirds of the spending coming from industry itself.” Business leaders made an urgent call for action a year ahead of the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy. They insisted Europe needs to implement the Lisbon and Barcelona targets in full for knowledge-based competitiveness, that deliberate EU and national policies should stimulate growth in key sectors, facilitate The European Industrial Research magazine provides information and research results in the field of Industrial Technologies – a key element in the EU Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) for research and technological development. Priority 3 focuses on nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, new production processes and devices. It promotes the transition to a knowledge-based society in Europe. Visit the Industrial Technologies website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/industrial_technologies/index_en.html for more extensive coverage of the issues discussed in this magazine and to discover many more themes and articles on Commission-funded industrial research, updated on a regular basis. Further information about Priority 3 is also available from the NMP Information Desk: rtd-nmp@cec.eu.int Published by: European Commission, Research DG, Directorate G (Industrial Technologies) Written and produced by: ESN, Brussels, Belgium Legal notice: Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of the information contained in this publication. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, readers who wish to follow up any of the opportunities cited in this publication should confirm the validity of the information with the contacts and/or references cited in the articles. © European Commission, 2004 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged. 2 # European Industrial Research - AUGUST 2004 competition and help create new markets, and called for thorough impact assessments examining the potential effects on the competitiveness of EU-based industry before any new regulation is proposed, more investment in education and lifelong learning, and more promotion of entrepreneurship. Keeping Europe at forefront of nanoelectronics A group of top-level executives from European industry and research organisations has prepared a strategic vision report that highlights the key importance of ensuring advanced research and high-value manufacturing capabilities for nanoelectronics. This sector is of vital importance to Europe, not only for generating highly skilled jobs but also as a crucial enabler of growth and competitiveness in many other industrial areas. Huge investments are required to remain at the forefront of global developments and stay ahead of strong international competition. The report Vision 2020: Nanoelectronics at the centre of change was presented in June 2004 by Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen, and Pasquale Pistorio, President and CEO of STMicroelectronics, who has been asked to chair the high level group. A key recommendation is the creation of a Technology Platform to strengthen collaborative research, create a more favourable regulatory and financial environment, and offer a course of action to back winners in this key sector. The report calls for annual investments of €6 billion in nanoelectronics. Major semiconductor and electronics companies, as well as research institutes across Europe, are already indicating their broad support for this initiative and look forward to taking an active role. Experts meet to prepare MANUFUTURE vision The first meeting of the Commissionappointed MANUFUTURE High Level Group of experts from industry and research was held in Brussels in June 2004. The objective was to review progress on the development of a shared vision for the future of manufacturing in Europe. Retention of a strong manufacturing sector is seen as vital to make the EU the world’s strongest knowledge-based economy. Manufacturing represents about 22% of total EU gross national product (GNP) and 18% of total employment in the region. However, in the global business environment Europe faces a growing threat of losing production jobs – especially in the traditional industries – to the lower-wage economies. The EU must therefore transform manufacturing from a resource-based to a knowledge-based activity delivering products of higher added value. This implies a need for radical innovation, which in turn demands increased investment in research. It will also be necessary to improve the public image of manufacturing in order to attract and retain future talent capable of generating and applying the new knowledge. New dynamic for European steel EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and Guy Dollé, chief executive officer of steel giant Arcelor and President of the European steelmakers federation EUROFER, jointly launched the European Steel Technology Platform in Brussels in March 2004. A high level group report provided a long-term vision and strategic research roadmap for the EU steel industry to 2030. “The European steel industry has undergone extensive restructuring, but more efforts are needed,” insists Commissioner Busquin. “Innovation turned the sector into a competitive global player. But more research and investment are necessary to remain competitive and face the challenges of globalisation and sustainable development.” The platform
››››››››››››››››››››››HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS›HIGHLIGHTS›››››››››› brings together key stakeholders including companies, research institutes and steel users. It aims to help the sector meet the challenges of the global market place, changing supply and demand patterns, environmental objectives, and the streamlining of EU and national legislation and regulation in this field. The platform will help identify ways to boost research and innovation, and to develop new and cleaner processing methods such as reducing CO 2 emissions. It will foster links between industry and academia to develop the necessary qualifications and skills. It will also advise on how best to fine-tune and coordinate available instruments and resources – including EU programmes – to make the most of access to capital, scientific excellence and technological know-how. Research key to environmental technology Action Plan In January 2004, the Commission adopted an ambitious Action Plan to boost development and use of environmental technologies, following consultation with governments, business communities and other stakeholders in 2003. The competitiveness of European companies and economic growth are driving forces behind the ETAP initiative. But the desire to contents p.45 Viewpoints Where is materials research heading? p.612 Feature MATERIALS: Making a lot from a little Generating the best return Introducing new concepts Box: Priority 3 funding instruments Lessons learned Beyond FP6 p.13 Article Setting a strategic research agenda for nanotechnologies p.1415 Article Opportunities abound for global research collaboration p.1617 Article EU-China co-operation set to blossom in materials research Box: Chinese research priorities Box: Third materials event p.1823 Industrial round-up p.24 Industrial research briefing Events New literature Useful links convince companies to invest in research is equally strong. While many technologies have great potential to improve the environment and boost the competitiveness of companies, there are still many barriers – including the complexity of switching from traditional to new technologies, and insufficient access to capital. ETAP aims to overcome these barriers through a concerted European effort to help maximise the potential of environmental technologies. It will also help the EU achieve its sustainable development goals in a costeffective way. The plan should enable the EU to become a recognised world leader in environmental technologies. ETAP actions are also tightly linked to technological research and will benefit the European Research Area (ERA), including the creation of a network of technological centres able to validate and promote environmental technologies; definition of environmental standards; promotion of clean technologies in developing countries to reinforce international research co-operation; and widening the targeted distribution of information on environmental technologies to potential investors, particularly in the private sector, to the 25 members of the EU and in third countries. editorial Materials win place of prominence Research into knowledge-based multifunctional materials is seen as one of the most promising activities capable of underpinning the twin EU goals of improving global competitiveness and achieving sustainable development. Consequently, it has been accorded a prominent position within the European Commission’s Sixth RTD Framework Programme (FP6), where materials represent a major part of one of just seven thematic priorities. This is in contrast to the former FP5, where research in the field was classified as a ‘generic activity’, and subsidiary to the key actions of the GROWTH programme. The great interest of academic and industrial players to participate in the sector is evident from a huge oversubscription to the first call for proposals under the new instruments of FP6 Thematic Priority 3. A large number of applications addressed the broad field of knowledge-based materials. Indeed, these included around half of the project proposals eventually selected for further negotiation – some of which are already approved and under way. Integrated Projects are designed to achieve breakthroughs and provide radical innovation in a range of RTD disciplines for a sustainable, competitive and sociallyappealing EU industry, while Networks of Excellence are paving the way for longerterm collaborations through progressive and lasting integration of multidisciplinary research teams. The title of the main feature in this issue of European Industrial Research is ‘Making a lot from a little’. This not only implies the profit potential in successful development of advanced, high-performance materials, but also the societal gains, environmental improvements and resource savings that can be won. Equally beneficial will be the establishment of an enhanced reputation for scientific excellence and leadership within the European Research Area. This in turn will raise public awareness and attract the young new talent that will be needed to take up the challenge with the increased research budgets envisaged by the Commission for the period beyond 2007. José-Lorenzo Vallés Head of Unit, Materials Industrial Technologies Directorate European Commission, Research DG
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August 2004 - European Commission - Europa

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