I527-290 ESRIF Final Report (WEB).indd - European Commission

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10.3.2 Analysis of Security Capabilities v. Defence Capabilities
10.3.2.1 Introduction
In the EU civil community, the objective of the Security R&T is to develop the technologies and knowledge for building
capabilities needed to ensure the security of citizens from threats such as acts of terrorism and (organised) crime, natural
disasters and industrial accidents while respecting fundamental human rights including privacy, to ensure optimal and
concerted use of available and evolving technologies to the benefi t of civil European security, to stimulate the cooperation of
providers and users for civil security solutions and to improve the competitiveness of the European security industry and to
deliver mission-oriented results to reduce security gaps.
In the Defence side, the mission of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their eff ort to improve the
EU’s defence capabilities in the fi eld of crisis management and to sustain ESDP as it stands now and develops in the future.
For this purpose, the four functions and tasks allocated to the Agency are the development of defence capabilities in crisis
management, the promotion and enhancement of European armaments cooperation, the strengthening of the European
Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and the enhancement of the eff ectiveness of European Defence Research
and Technology (EDRT).
10.3.2.2 Defence R&T
It emerges from many experts debates that diff erent conceptions of Defence R&T exist in Europe. The debates have revealed
that if those diff erent conceptions coexist, it is partly due to the various motives of carrying out Defence R&T:
Evaluate technologies in order to meet with capabilities needs (improve its contractor capability)
Develop technologies in order to fi ll the capability gaps and to support the competitiveness of DTIB (improve the capacities
to provide products)
Diff erent discussions also took place about the European R&T strategy under preparation by EDA, its relation with the CDP
and its implementation, in particular the existing R&T project management tools (cat. B projects, JIP) or potential new tools. It
is noted that beyond the 22 priorities identifi ed by EDRT, other subjects of interest exist (even if they lead to more diffi culties
for co-operation). A better recognition of capabilities considerations and the development of an analytical approach could be
an axis to be considered.
Some EU actors, particularly industries, have raised the issue of the necessity for dialogue with all stakeholders (industries,
laboratories, universities, regions) and of transparency. This has been notably presented as a manner to optimise the investments
(maximise the outputs) and to attract funds from other stakeholders than Member States and the idea of a common agenda
has been raised in many discussions.
In addition to outputs maximisation, the increase of R&T devoted resources issue is raised in many contexts, with
the possibility of a target for R&T devoted part in the defence budget and the setting of a fund devoted to facilitate
technological exchanges.
Last but not least, it is noted that the technological capabilities of the new European Union
Member States (hold by companies, laboratories, research institutes) remain up to now unrecognized and the interest for
developing knowledge on these capabilities is widely recognized.
10.3.2.3 Dual R&T and Security R&T
A general consensus is found in the EU stakeholders on the interest for developing as much synergies as possible between
defence R&T and civilian R&T, and particularly security R&T. The debates are on the question of improving the use of civilian
research for defence purpose and vice versa. All are convinced that basic R&T is mostly generic, not specifi cally civil or
defence. Furthermore, the perimeter includes not only civil and defence, but also space (where ESA could be an example
of possible duality).
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 2 • Working Group: The governance and coordination