Brussels, 10/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The package will be funded through five public-private partnerships in key sectors for the European economy and society.
On Wednesday 10 July, Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn presented an “investment package” designed to stimulate research and innovation in the fields of innovative medicines, the aeronautical industry, the bio-industries, fuel cells, hydrogen and electronics.
Over the next seven years, the Commission, the member states and EU companies will invest more than €22.5 billion in stimulating innovation in these sectors, which already provide more than four million jobs. Much of this money (€17.5 billion) will be granted to 5 public-private partnerships active in these sectors. In total, a proposed investment of €8 billion from the next research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, will allow €10 billion to be secured from companies and nearly €4 billion from the member states of the EU.
As well as support for the development of these sectors which are vital to the EU economy, the money will help to face the challenges of society to which the market alone cannot respond quickly, such as cutting carbon emissions and developing a new generation of antibiotics. The package also proposes to extend the scope of application of an initiative to group investments in innovation in the field of air traffic control in the framework of the single European sky (see other article).
“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 leveraging effect of the EU budget for growth and jobs”, said the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in a press release.
The investment package is based largely on five public-private partnerships, known as joint technology initiatives (JTI), which are open to a wide range of businesses in all types of research organisations. The financial support provided by the forthcoming research and innovation programme Horizon 2020, of the order of €6.44 billion, will make it possible to raise additional funds from industry. In total, €17.515 billion will be invested in the following five JTIs:
- The Innovative Medicines 2 (IMI2) initiative, which aims to develop the next generation of vaccines, medicines and treatments, such as new antibiotics, has been granted an envelope of €1.725 billion under Horizon 2020, with €1.725 billion from the private sector.
- The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 (FCH2) initiative, to expand the use of clean and efficient technologies and transport, industry and energy, has been granted an envelope of €700 million from the programme Horizon 2020 with €700 million from the private sector.
- The Clean Sky 2 (CS2) initiative, which seeks to develop cleaner, quieter aircraft with significantly lower CO2 emissions, has been allocated an envelope of €1.8 billion from Horizon 2020, with €2.250 billion from the private sector.
- The Bio-Based Industries (BBI) initiative, designed to encourage the use of renewable resources and innovative technologies for produce greener everyday products, receives €1 billion from Horizon 2020, with €2.8 billion from the private sector.
- The Electronic Components and Systems (ECSEL) initiative, which aims to boost Europe's electronics manufacturing capabilities, receives €1.215 billion from Horizon 2020 and €1.2 billion from the member states, with €2.4 billion from the private sector.
Although the initiatives Innovative Medicines 2, Clean Sky 2 and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 are based on existing initiatives, major changes have been made to take account of criticism about their complexity, which makes it difficult to get on board. As for the Electronic Components and Systems initiative, it will combine to existing partnerships. Finally, the Bio-based Industries initiative is entirely new. No legislative proposal is currently required to set in place these initiatives in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme, which is subject to the approval of the European Parliament and Council.
The investment package also includes four public-public partnerships between the Commission and the member states of the EU. An envelope of €1.445 billion has been allocated to this under Horizon 2020, and €2.019 billion are expected from the member states. These four joint programmes are as follows:
- The European and developing countries clinical trials partnership (EDCTP 2), which is dedicated to new treatments for poverty-related diseases, receives €683 million from the Horizon 2020 programme plus the same amount from the member states.
- The European metrology research programme (EMPIR), which is dedicated to technologies to measure industrial competitiveness, will be granted €300 million under Horizon 2020 and the same amount from the member states.
- the Eurostars 2 support programme for hi-tech specialist SMEs will receive €287 million from Horizon 2020 and €861 million from member states.
- the R&D programme on leading an active life, dedicated to creating solutions that allow senior citizens or persons with disability to live safely at home, will receive €175 million from the Horizon 2020 programme and member states.
As part of the planned extension in the “investment” package's scope, the joint SESAR enterprise, aiming to pool investment in innovation in air traffic control and implementing the European Single Sky, will receive an envelope of €600 million as part of Horizon 2020 and €1 billion from the inter-governmental organisation for air traffic safety, Eurocontrol. (EH/transl.fl)