1. The ETPs concept: From leading edge R&D to EU competitiveness Waldemar Kütt Directorate General for Research, European Commission ETSI Meeting – Sophia Antipolis 23 Oct 2006

2. European Technology Platforms: Rationale
Contribute to Competitiveness
- Lisbon goal
Boost research performance
- ERA, 3% target
Positive impact on other Community policies
Concentrate efforts and address fragmentation

3. European Technology Platforms: Concept
Stakeholders getting together to define a Strategic Research Agenda on a number of strategically important issues with high societal relevance where achieving Europe’s future growth, competitiveness and sustainable objectives is dependent upon major research and technological advances in the medium to long term.
The

4. European Technology Platforms: Characteristics
Address challenging issues for growth
Embody major technological advances
in the medium/long-term
Bring Community added value
Involve high research intensity
Require a common European approach
– research and technological development…
to demonstration…..to, in the longer-term,
market penetration

5. EU Technology Platforms: Three Stages
Stage 1: Stakeholders get together to define a Common Vision
Stage 2: Stakeholders define a Strategic Research Agenda
Stage 3: Stakeholders implement the Strategic Research Agenda
…………

6. European Technology Platforms: Current State of Play
Considerable momentum behind process
30 ETPS well advanced
- Over 25 Vision statements completed
- Over 20 Strategic Research Agendas (SRA) in place
- Majority of ETPs preparing to implement their SRA
New topics continue to emerge

7. European Technology Platforms: Implementation - Key Factors for Success
Industry-led; Competitiveness-driven
Wide stakeholder involvement
Flexibility: No “One Size Fits All”
Concrete deliverables
Active role of “Mirror Groups”
Communication / dissemination
Financial engineering

8. European Technology Platforms: Openness and Transparency
Code of Good Practice
Key Elements:
- Rotation of membership of Advisory Council
- Regular stakeholder meetings
- Openness to participation of new stakeholders
- Dedicated platform website

9. European Technology Platforms: Role of Research Community
Significant stakeholders in ETPs
Forms of involvement vary
- Input to consensus on Vision
- Participate in Expert Groups for Strategic Research Agenda
- Contribute to addressing research dimension of implementation

10. European Technology Platforms: Involvement of SMEs
ETPs are not an SME-specific mechanism
SME involvement encouraged where adds value
Direct participation
Involvement through SME associations
Membership of National Technology Platforms
Commission commitment to SME involvement

11. European Technology Platforms: Commission Involvement
Encouraging a “bottom-up” industry-led approach
Not owner, but active facilitator
Not labelling, but guiding
Co-ordinating/Monitoring role
BUT:
Not bound by content of Strategic Research Agendas

12. European Technology Platforms: Implementation under FP7
ETPs have key role in increasing industrial participation in FP7
“The Seventh Framework Programme is tailored to better meet industry’s needs. Where industrially relevant, the definition of work programmes will draw on the Strategic Research Agendas developed by industry-led technology platforms.” (“Building the ERA of Knowledge”, COM(2005) 118, p. 8)

13. European Technology Platforms: Implementation Under FP7
Majority of Platforms:
Supported using funding schemes for collaborative research under ‘Cooperation’ Programme:
Collaborative projects, Networks of Excellence, Coordination & Support Actions

14. European Technology Platforms: Implementation Under FP7
Small minority:
Long-term Public-Private Partnerships
Dedicated legal structure to implement a clearly defined objective (Joint Technology Initiative)
Can serve to implement part or the entirety of a
European Technology Platform
Article 171 of the Treaty: most likely means of
implementation

15. Joint Technology Initiatives
Possible fields already identified:
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Aeronautics and Air Transport
Innovative Medicines
Nanoelectronics Technologies 2020
Embedded Computing Systems
Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
…but other fields could be identified subsequently

16. European Technology Platforms: Financial Engineering
FP7: part of funding portfolio, but ..
Need to mobilise a wide range of public & private funding sources
e.g. industry, national & regional research programmes, Structural Funds
Role of European Investment Bank (RSFF: Risk Sharing Finance Facility)

17. European Technology Platforms: Current Issues
Ensuring effective transition from definition to implementation
Ensure focus on European competitiveness: No proliferation
Role of European Technology Platforms going forward

18. European Technology Platforms: Maintaining Momentum
Progress to date is excellent
Key role of ETPs in shaping European research policy
Important to maintain impetus by moving to implementation
Explore ‘lead markets’ initiative

19. Lead Markets
markets driven by innovation, requiring stronger mobilisation of public and private research efforts
markets with a high growth potential, in Europe and globally
markets nurturing future world-leading products and companies
markets where public authorities have a critical role as regulator, customer, and/or facilitator

20. Lead Markets
Research and innovation policies at national/EU level mainly concentrate on technology push and supply side
Policies to promote demand pull have also developed:
Mainly “horizontal” measures to improve business environment across all sectors, e.g. competition rules, IPR, public procurement
In some cases also “vertical” measures focusing on specific areas/markets

21. Lead Markets “Vertical measures”
Combine as appropriate market regulation, standardisation, public procurement and IPR
Act more proactively and systematically: anticipate markets rather than responding to them
Identify/anticipate bottlenecks and opportunities
Consider all areas/markets but in particular those with the potential to develop into “Lead Markets” in Europe

22. “Pilot Lead Markets”
Some areas covered by European Technology Platforms are potentially good candidates for lead markets due to:
Need to increase R&D effort
Long term research agenda
Openness and transparency
Involvement of public authorities
Consideration by some of regulatory/standards issues

23. Website http://cordis.europa.eu.int/ technology-platforms
Further information
Website
technology-platforms