On Tuesday 9 January, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union sent Member States draft conclusions on strengthening knowledge valorisation as a tool for resilient reindustrialisation and open strategic autonomy. The text will be reviewed by a Council working group on 17 January.
The text notes that, while the EU is recognised for its excellence in research and innovation (R&I), it is still struggling to fully translate the results obtained in this sector into societal and economic value and to retain the benefits within the EU.
The Spanish Presidency had already identified the obstacles to valorisation (see EUROPE 13296/9), which include early-stage companies having to cross the ‘valley of death’ and the difficulty of overcoming the “European innovation paradox”, i.e. translating scientific advances into marketable solutions.
Among other things, the document stresses the need to strengthen existing tools and initiate new approaches, such as innovation clusters and platforms and networking events, and calls on the Member States to involve them in a common approach.
The Commission is also encouraged to implement a new instrument to strengthen the capacity of intermediaries between universities and businesses, such as knowledge and technology transfer offices.
The text also stresses the importance of the widespread adoption of existing and emerging innovative technologies (key enabling technologies, artificial intelligence, life sciences technologies and advanced materials).
In its proposal, the Presidency will ask the Commission to analyse the adequacy and effectiveness of EU funding tools for knowledge valorisation activities in all European programmes and initiatives and to encourage synergies between European programmes.
The Member States are invited, among other things, to promote access to venture capital, private and public fundraising and other support for the development of R&I, such as incubators.
Link: https://aeur.eu/f/abl (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)