Brussels, 29/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The high-level group led by the European Commission is asking the Council to provide political impetus for the development of key enabling technologies (KETs).
On 28 January, the expert group - which was set up at the beginning of 2013 to support the rise of KETs - submitted a report inviting the member states to set up projects of common European interest in order to support the rise of these future technologies. The report highlights the role of KETs in achieving the objective of bringing the share of the European manufacturing sector to 20% of EU GDP by 2020 and it highlights KETs' strong contribution to the transition towards a low-carbon economy and an efficient use of energy and resources. The expert group's first meeting in February 2013 gave rise to a memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the EIB to provide better access to funding for investment in these technologies.
KETs (nanotechnology, micro-and nanoelectronics, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics and advanced manufacturing systems) exist in products of everyday use such as mobile phones (nano-components), screens/high definition LED displays (photonic crystals), advanced batteries for electric vehicles (cutting edge materials and nanotechnologies), bio-chips (advanced materials), disease detection processes (nanoelectronics and photonics) and low friction tyres (industrial biotechnology). The global market for KETs was assessed at €650 billion in 2008 and could reach over €1 trillion by 2015. (EH/transl.fl)