Industrial applied research needs to remain a major cornerstone of Framework Programme 9 (FP9), if Europe is to be consistent about the EU’s industrial strategy

Published: 14 December 2017

Policies & Issues: R&D and Innovation

Orgalime welcomed the publication of the European Commission Communication on a “renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy”. We have long been vocal in calling for a modern and forward-looking strategy at EU level, one that focuses on the EU policy tools that can deliver real added-value to a jobs and growth agenda. The EU’s research and innovation policy is one such tool underpinning the broader goal of boosting employment and economic prosperity in Europe. As such, Orgalime considers that the present Horizon 2020 European Research Framework Programme (FP) makes a significant contribution to the competitiveness of European industry – and, as a result, to sustainable socio-economic development more generally.

Research and innovation are key drivers of industrial competitiveness and should be supported at both national and European level. Horizon 2020 – and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in particular – fosters cooperation at the European level among all actors throughout the innovation chain. It is an excellent way to increase risk-taking in research and innovation, and has helped companies remain at the leading edge of the global marketplace.

Orgalime wants to see the Industrial Pillar maintained and developed in the future Framework Programme 9 (FP9). We believe that reinforcing the Industrial Pillar in the next programme would be a logical and consistent next step following on from both the Commission’s new industrial strategy and the recent conclusions of the Competitiveness Council. The ‘Lab-Fab-App’ report produced by the High-Level Group on maximising impact of EU Research and Innovation Programmes touched only on some aspects of competitiveness and has not sufficiently elaborated on its importance.

The European engineering industry is in favour of a successor programme to Horizon 2020 that concentrates on collaborative industrial applied research (not on single beneficiary schemes) and innovation projects. In this position paper, we explain in detail which elements of the Lab-Fab-App report we support and which are currently missing or not sufficiently considered. We urge the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to take into account our views when shaping the future Framework Programme 9 – in order to bolster the competitiveness of European industry and, by extension, the prosperity of the EU economy as a whole.

To read our position in full, please download the position paper above.

Authors

Maréchal
Rozenn Maréchal
Adviser - R&I, Economics & Statistics

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