Brussels, 07/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, Commissioner Viviane Reding officially launched EUROP, a European Technology Platform on Robotics, in the aim of fostering technologies to serve European citizens directly. The initiative, in which fifty European companies and research centres participate, was created by leaders in the technology sector: KUBA, ABB, COMAU, Philips, Finmeccanica, SAFRAN, EADS, Thales, INDRA, Dassault Aviation, BAE Systems, Electrolux, Zenon, RURobots, OCRobotics, Qinetiq, CEA and Fraunhofer. Europe aims to maintain its lead in industrial robotics and even develop the technology in other sectors, such as security and space, by maximising product standardisation, the Platform organisers explain. Citizens will enjoy direct benefit from robotics in their daily lives thanks to the development of new technological applications to assist with household tasks, and to lighten their professional occupations, and make these safer. Furthermore, new surveillance mechanisms will ensure better security protection. The European Commission supports initiatives such as EUROP which are along the lines of the i2010 strategy presented in June this year, defining the policy guidelines that it recommends over the next five years in the field of information technology (ICT). Europe is well-positioned, Commissioner Reding says, adding: “we are leading in industrial robotics and in system engineering and we are starting to address new markets”. It is nonetheless a direct rival to the United States, Japan and Korea, which are progressing fast and making large investments in research and development. “Their objective is clear: to build their new robotics industries and to prepare markets for new robotic products and services”, the Commissioner warns, deploring the lack of enthusiasm on the part of certain EU Member States when it comes to increasing investment in research, while the Commission had proposed a sound financial basis. Speaking to the companies of the sector, she went on to conclude: “Your message is clear: the relevant public authorities could do better to articulate their support to research and to innovation in this field. As for the Commission, I can assure you that my services have already taken the appropriate steps in that direction”.