SPEECH/06/482
Janez Potočnik
European Commissioner for Science and Research
Strengthening the competitiveness of Europe's industry
Conference on European Technology Platforms
Ankara, 7 September 2006
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It's a pleasure to be here in Turkey today. I would like to thank TUBITAK and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey for today's invitation. This is my first official visit to Turkey as European Commissioner for Research and I hope it will not be my last.
I am very glad that we are holding this conference today on European Technology Platforms. These platforms are highly innovative structures with a very relevant role to play for our competitiveness. There is one aspect thereof that I want to explore with you today: how technology platforms contribute to economic progress and EU integration.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are approaching autumn. It is the time of year when the birds start flying south. The way they do this is one of nature's best examples of teamwork. Geese, for example, fly in a 'V' formation, to reduce resistance. They save up to 70% energy flying in this way! And it is thanks to research that we know that they save 70% energy.
This is working together towards a result which benefits all. And this seems a good way of explaining how I think European research can move forward. It also reflects the ambitions of the European Research Area, where Europe's best brains and resources work together to provide answers and benefits for all of Europe.
What benefits are there in working together? Well, apart from reaching better weather more quickly, like the birds, there is a financial incentive. More collaboration means less waste and duplication, so less money spent.
Turkey is aware of the importance of collaboration. The 2005 Eurobarometer survey "Europeans, science and technology" asked around 1,000 people in each European country "will internationally collaborative research funded by the EU become more important?" In Turkey, 67% agreed.
But how does this affect you? Well, the same survey asked "Should scientists and industrialists cooperate more?" In Turkey, 69% said yes. Of this figure, 50% agreed strongly–one of the highest scores in Europe.
Therefore Turkey knows already that more research needs to be done together.
So, what I want to address today is a concrete way of how collaboration translates into competitiveness: the European Technology Platforms. In a way, these are a mini version of the European research area, bringing the best from the private and public sector together to work on a specific area.
First, let me clarify briefly what these are and their objective. European Technology Platforms are autonomous and industry-led. In other words: We don't tell anyone what to do.
Who are in these Platforms? Everyone with an interest in a specific sector. This means the private sector, research institutes and anyone else who can give some added value.
What do they aim to do? To bring together national, regional and local projects together. And they have a strategic research agenda, agreed on by the participants. This means that everyone is pulling in the same direction.
There are 30 European Technology Platforms, covering areas as diverse as construction, water supply and sanitation, fuel cell technology and nanomedicine.
Why are these a benefit?
Put simply, they strengthen the link between research and industry. This helps transform knowledge into products and services. And this helps the economy. Your economy.
As you already know, research and innovation are people-based. You need to get different people together, talking, thinking, to move ahead. That is what the European Technology Platforms do.
Through this, they come up with a common vision in crucial areas for European competitiveness.
They have influence too. European Technology Platforms provided significant input to the Commission's Framework Programme proposal. They will continue to influence the related work programmes and, therefore, the calls for proposals. In this way, industry can regularly communicate its needs to the Framework Programme.
And European Technology Platforms are influencing the development of not just European, but also national and regional research agendas. I expect this impact to increase.
This leads to the question: has Turkey taken advantage of the opportunities provided by European Technology Platforms?
Turkey is currently involved in 12 of the 30 European Technology Platforms, with Turkish participants actively involved in seven of these.
This is a good start. But everyone would benefit from more participation, particularly from industry. Greater involvement in European Technology Platforms could even lead to more Turkish industry participation in the EU Framework Programme.
Further progress could be made through setting up national technology platforms. These could be in areas of your national strengths and priorities, such as manufacturing and construction. National platforms form a network under the European platforms. They also improve coordination in implementing national policies.
What else can be done?
Publicauthorities can help maximize the impact of European level efforts. For example, they can help raise awareness, especially among industry, of the Framework Programme's opportunities. In addition, they can identify priorities for both Turkey and Europe. We, at the Commission, can then help address these needs. This is where European Technology Platforms have a role to play, providing a valuable feedback channel.
Of course, some measures are already being taken by Turkish public authorities to increase investment in research. I very much welcome this. But industry must also increase its level of investment in research and development.
For this to happen, the right conditions must be in place. Across Europe, we are identifying and implementing the necessary policy measures to boost the involvement of industry in R&D and help innovation.
These policy measures relate, for example, to new or better-adapted regulations and public procurement structures which enhance demand for innovative goods.
In addition to these measures, fiscal measures and research grants for SMEs are effective tools to encourage private sector investment in research.
Furthermore, developing strong clear European standards helps to create a strong internal market. We saw that with GSM mobile phones standards, which were developed in Europe and used worldwide.There are plenty of measures that can help increase the involvement of industry in R&D! However, none of them on their own can achieve the desired result. We need to build the objective of increasing industrial research within our policies and to adopt an integrated approach combining different measures, to be sure to achieve success.
Before concluding, I would not be doing my job properly if I did not mention the new Framework Programme, or FP7. As you know, the longer lasting, higher budget, FP7 is due to be launched in January 2007. The first calls will hopefully be before the end of the year.
I would be really pleased to see more Turkish participation in this next Framework Programme. I note that there has recently been an increased Turkish participation in projects in the FP6 Information Society Technologies, environment and nanotechnology programmes. It is time to build on this.
Of course association to the Seventh Framework Programme is a precondition. I know this is under active consideration by your government. I sincerely hope that Turkey will soon take the decision to request its association to the Seventh Framework Programme.
From the Commission side, I am committed to making the association conditions, including the financial contribution, as attractive as possible.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope to have shared my enthusiasm for research as a means to competitiveness. Your recent record indicates you are already on the right path. Your growth rate of 7.5% is closer to China's than the EU's. You also had your highest ever level of foreign direct investment last year.
However, even if the present situation looks promising, we must look into the future. Research policy is about making true a certain vision of the future: a competitive knowledge based economy which can ensure prosperity and solidarity, further sustainable development and promote European values.
To achieve that vision of the future a lot remains to be done.
Turkey has set itself ambitious targets: to gradually increase the Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) as a percentage of GDP from 0.67% (2002) to 2% (2010). This is not only good but also necessary. Increasing the industry share in R&D investments is key to achieve your target. It should be Turkey's top priority to create the necessary conditions to stimulate investment in research by the private sector.
With more future involvement of industry in research in general, and the European Technology Platforms in particular, Turkey can grow even more. It will mean more research collaboration, more competitiveness and maybe even more funding. Then you will be contributing to the vision of the future I just sketched.
I indicated at the beginning of my speech that people in Turkey already know that more industry/science collaboration is needed and that EU research saves money. Like I said, this is all about teamwork and economic progress. You are the ones who can make this a reality. And in that, I offer you my full support.
Thank you.
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