José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, said: "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 leverage effect of the EU budget for growth and jobs."
Overall, a proposed €8 billion investment from the next EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, will secure around €10 billion from industry, and close to €4 billion from EU Member States.
European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: "These initiatives not only strengthen our economy, they are an investment in a better quality of life. Working together will enable us to tackle issues that no one company or country can deal with alone."
The five Public-Private Partnerships, called 'Joint Technology Initiatives' (JTIs), are:
- Innovative Medicines 2 (IMI2): to develop next generation vaccines, medicines and treatments, such as new antibiotics
- Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 (FCH2): to expand the use of clean and efficient technologies in transport, industry and energy
- Clean Sky 2 (CS2): to develop cleaner, quieter aircraft with significantly less CO2 emissions
- Bio-based Industries (BBI): to use renewable natural resources and innovative technologies for greener everyday products
- Electronic Components and Systems (ECSEL): to boost Europe’s electronics manufacturing capabilities
The JTIs are open to a wide range of industries across Europe, including SMEs, and all types of research organisations can apply for funding. The Commission has developed the new initiatives in close partnership with industry, who in turn have committed substantial financial resources. Major changes have been introduced to address the criticisms that the current initiatives are overly complex and difficult to participate in.
The Innovative Medicines Initiative, Clean Sky and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen JTIs all currently exist, while the Electronics JTI will combine two current partnerships. The Bio-based Industries JTI is a new initiative. New legislative proposals are needed now to establish the initiatives under the next EU research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, which is subject to approval by the European Parliament and Council.
The package also includes four public-public partnerships between the European Commission and EU Member States: new treatments against poverty-related diseases, measurement technologies for industrial competitiveness, support for high tech SMEs, and solutions for the elderly and disabled to live safely in their homes.
The Commission Communication accompanying the legislative proposals also sets out how the Commission intends to strengthen industrial engagement in Horizon 2020 through further public-private partnerships, such as in the areas of Green Cars, Energy Efficient Buildings, Factories of the Future, Sustainable Process Industries, Robotics and Photonics.