EU industrial leadership boosted through research partnerships

The European Commission has launched eight contractual public private partnerships (cPPPs) of strategic importance for European industry.

The partnerships will leverage more than €6bn of investments to be allocated through calls for proposals under Horizon 2020. Each euro of public funding is expected to trigger additional investments of between €3-10m to develop new technologies, products and services which will give European industry a leading position on world markets.

European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said: “New technologies and products, such as green cars, energy efficient buildings and cleaner manufacturing processes, are essential to address societal challenges such as climate change, energy and resource efficiency. We want these contractual PPPs to have a substantial impact on the competitiveness of the EU industry, on sustainable economic growth and the creation of new high-skilled jobs in Europe.”

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner Vice-President with responsibility for the Digital Agenda, added: “These PPPs will maintain our global lead in robotics, photonics, high performance computing, telecoms and give us a head start in smart cities, intelligent transport, education, entertainment, media and other promising markets. Combined with a comprehensive industrial strategy, the PPPs will ensure vigorous European leadership and a better future for all.”

The eight cPPPs are Factories of the Future, Energy efficient Buildings, European Green Vehicles Initiative, Sustainable Process Industry, photonics, robotics, high performance computing, and advanced 5G networks for the future internet.

The contracts setting up the PPPs were signed by the Commission and chairs of specifically created industrial research and innovation associations, representing more than 1,000 large and small enterprises across Europe.