EU and industry to invest €22 bn in research and innovation

The European Commission (EC), executive body of the European Union (EU), along with the member states and the European industry will spend over €22 billion in research and innovation in cutting-edge technology areas over the next seven years.

Most of the investment will go to public-private partnerships called joint technology initiatives (JTIs) in five niche areas - innovative medicines, aeronautics, bio-based industries, fuel cells and hydrogen, and electronics, the EU said in a statement.

The partnerships is expected to boost the competitiveness of EU industry and also find solutions to major challenges such as reducing carbon emissions, providing next generation of antibiotics, air traffic management in support of a Single European Sky.

According to EC president José Manuel Barroso, "The EU must remain a leader in strategic global technology sectors that provide high quality jobs. This innovation investment package combines public and private funding to do just that.''

''This is a perfect demonstration of the leverage effect of the EU budget for growth and jobs," Barroso further stated.

Under the scheme, about €8 billion of the investment will come from the next EU research and innovation progrmme Horizon 2020, around €10 billion from industry and approximately €4 billion from the EU member states.

Commissioner for research, innovation and science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn says, "These initiatives not only strengthen our economy, they are an investment in a better quality of life. Working together will enable us to tackle issues that no one company or country can deal with alone."

Industries across Europe including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and all types of research organizations can apply for the JTI funding.

The JTIs on innovative medicines, clean sky and fuel cells and hydrogen currently exist while electronics JTI will combine two current partnerships. The JTI on bio-based industries is a new initiative.

JTI innovative medicines envisages development of next generation vaccines, medicines and treatments, such as new antibiotics while fuel cells and hydrogen focuses on the use of clean and efficient technologies in transport, industry and energy.

Clean sky initiative develops cleaner, quieter aircraft with significantly less carbon dioxide emissions and electronics aims to boost Europe's electronic equipment design and manufacturing capabilities underpinning next-generation digital technologies.

The new bio-based industries plan will focus on the use of renewable natural resources and innovative technologies for greener everyday products, aimed to move towards a post-petroleum society by replacing petroleum-based products with bio-based products.

There have been criticisms on the complexity of participation in the current initiatives. The EC said that it has therefore developed the new initiatives in close partnership with industry with some major changes to avoid disagreements.

EU's next research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 is subject to approval by the European parliament and council.

The package also includes four public-public partnerships between the EC and the member states dealing with poverty related diseases, measurement technologies for industrial competitiveness, support for high tech SMEs and solutions for the elderly and disabled persons.

The commission also foresees further cooperation in advanced areas such as green cars, energy efficient buildings, factories of the future, sustainable process industries, robotics and photonics.