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Key Enabling Technologies (KET)
On September 30, 2009 the European Commission published a communication on "Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies in the EU". The Communication is part of the development of an EU industrial policy and thus to be seen in the light of the Europe 2020 strategy and its flagship initiatives on “An Industrial Policy for the Globalised Era” and “Innovation Union”.
This process was launched in order to identify the key enabling technologies necessary to strengthen the industrial and technological capacities of the EU to be able to cope with the societal challenges ahead.
In this respect on July 13, 2010 the Commission launched a high level expert group which aimed at developing within a year a common long term strategy on key enabling technologies. This „High Level Expert Group (HLG) on Key Enabling Technologies (KETs)“ consists of 27 members including representatives from EU member states relevant European industry, downstream industries, the research community and the European Investment Bank. The works were focussing on three main topics:
- Assess the competitive situation oft he relevant technologies in the EU especially in the fields industrial deployment and contribution to solve the grand societal challenges
- In depth analysis of existing public and private R&D capacities in the EU (on all levels)
- propose specific policy recommendations for the effective industrial deployment of the KETs in the EU
A particular focus was on the question of how the conversion of research results into industrial products and services could be improved. The midterm report with 11 policy recommendations has been presented in February 2011 and the final report has been published on June 28, 2011.
The above-mentioned Communication of the European Commission of September 30, 2009 was complemented by the Staff Working Document “Current situation of key enabling technologies in Europe”. This Document indentifies 6 prior technological areas to improve the EU's industrial competitiveness.
- Nanotechnology: Development of intelligent Nano- and Microsystems. Further possible applications in the fields of Health, Environment and Energy;
- Micro and Nanoelectronics: E.g. Semiconductors which are used for any kind of products and services in need of intelligent control systems (especially in the fields of Automotive industry, Transport and Aero- Astronautics);
- Photonics: Forms the technological basis for the conversion of sunlight into Energy in the field of Renewables;
- Advanced Materials: Manufacturing of ever lighter materials, to reduce CO2 emissions andsave natural resources;
- Biotechnology: Develop clean and sustainable process alternatives for industry and agriculture;
- Advanced Manufacturing Systems: As a cross cutting topic which concerns all the other 5 areas.
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High-Level Expert Group on Key Enabling Technologies: Final report
[de] High-Level Expert Group on Key Enabling Technologies: mid-term working document
[en] Communication from the Commission: Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies
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