Technology Infrastructures as a mechanism to reinforce European competitiveness: The European Commission's report

The European Commission published a report with recommendations on Technology Infrastructures (TIs), "Towards a European Policy for Technology Infrastructures: Building Bridge to Competitiveness", to ensure that they can effectively support industries, SMEs and start-ups in sustainable growth and technological leadership. Produced by the Expert Group on Technology Infrastructures (EGTI) the report is accompanied by an analytical report on TI user needs.

The report presents five strategic recommendations:

1) Formalise the definition of Technology Infrastructures

EGTI proposes definition as follows:

Technology infrastructures are facilities, equipment, capabilities and resources required to develop, test, upscale and validate technology. They enable and accelerate technological innovations towards societal/market adoption, fostering industrial competitiveness. They provide a wide range of capacities and services from pre-competitive applied research services, through demonstration and validation of technology, up to small-scale production. They include, amongs others, test beds, demonstration and testing facilities, pilot lines or living labs, usually embedded within non-profit research and technology organisations, universities active in technology fields or technology centres, which are open to private and public users. They can be public, semi-public or privately owned, physical or digital.

2) Improve access to TIS

EGTI recommends developing a European Charter for Access to TIs.

3)  Develop an effective investment prioritisation mechanism for European TIs

EGTI recommends setting up an EU level investment prioritisation mechamism for TIs that should address the needs of technologies of strategic importance for the EU's competitiveness and align strategies for their availability and access with the current and future needs of users and existing TI operators.

4) Establish at EU level a robust governance framework for TIs

5) Establish funding programmes dedicated to TIs at European and national level

EGTI recommends that the EU institutions should make available dedicated funding for TIs at European level from programmes supporting R&I and competitiveness.

More information at: COM TI The document can be found here: TIs Report

The upcoming European Strategy for Research and Technology Infrastructures will be instrumental in enhancing the TI ecosystem, ensuring Europe's competitiveness in the global scale.