The Eureka Initiative

Transcription

1 The Eureka Initiative The Czech Chair: July 2005 to June 2006 A report of activities and results EUREKA

2 The year in brief 2005 > October EUREKA Forum in Prague The primary aim of the EUREKA Forum, hosted by the Czech Chairmanship in Prague, was to raise the political profile of the EUREKA Initiative and to reinforce the commitment of member countries in ensuring the stability and predictability of national public funding for innovative research. The Forum culminated in the publication of the Prague Resolution. The event occurred almost 20 years to the day of the signing of the Hanover Declaration and the official birth of EUREKA. This significant anniversary was marked by a gala dinner at Prague's Obecní Dům, or Municipal House, in the presence of Czech EUREKA Minister Petra Buzková. A springboard for innovating SMEs During the EUREKA round table session at the Innovact event in the French city of Reims, members of EUREKA, OSEO Anvar, the French innovation agency, and project participants emphasised their combined commitment to enhancing industrial innovation, particularly amongst SMEs, the so-called 'engines of economic growth'. ITEA 2 is approved In its October meeting in Prague, the EUREKA High Level Group confirmed its approval of follow-on Cluster ITEA 2 for an eightyear duration. The core challenge of ITEA 2 is to tackle the dramatic shift to embedded software-intensive systems and services (ISS), maintaining the momentum established by its predecessor ITEA. The new Cluster will be involved in the proposed EU Joint Technology Initiative ARTEMIS. > November At the forefront of micro- and nano-electronics The MEDEA+ Forum in Barcelona emphasised the Cluster's key role in the European micro- and nano-electronics industry, through its focus on system innovation on silicon for the e-economy. The second Jean- Pierre Noblanc Award for Excellence, honouring the most innovative and sustainable MEDEA+ project was awarded to the A207 Pocket Multimedia project (Pocket MM). The project delivers low-power, highly portable devices with outstanding multimedia performance > February Eurostars Programme Manager announced A manager to launch the new Eurostars Programme, supporting research-performing small businesses, was announced at the Network meetings in Brno. Luuk Borg, from the Netherlands Patent Office, joined the EUREKA Secretariat in Brussels in late Spring. Telecoms Cluster CELTIC event Dublin Castle and Enterprise Ireland played hosts to the CELTIC Event 2006, an official happening of the EUREKA telecommunications Cluster. The event presented developments towards integrated next-generation telecommunications and multimedia systems for mobile and fixed networks. An exhibition running in parallel gave project teams the opportunity to showcase their innovations and demonstrate achievements. The Chairmanship of CELTIC also changed hands, with incumbent Jacques Magen handing over the reins to José Jimenez of Spanish operator Telefónica. Raising EUREKA awareness at ITRE EUREKA showed its commitment to raising awareness of the Initiative's objectives amongst members of ITRE, the European Parliament Industry, Research and Energy committee. A special event was hosted by Irish MEP Avril Doyle and the Czech EUREKA Chairmanship. In his presentation to the parliamentarians, Miroslav Janeček, Chair of the EUREKA National Project Coordinators, covered current issues, specifically the Eurostars Programme and participation of the EUREKA Clusters in European Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives. committees/ itre_home_en.htm > March EUREKA at European Business Summit The fourth edition of this major event focused on 'Building a Europe of excellence: turning knowledge into growth', in the build-up to the EU Spring Summit. EUREKA was out in force to highlight its dedicated 20-year involvement in European R&D. The programme of events included a workshop organised by the Czech Chair. "The EBS provides a unique platform for in-depth dialogue between EU policy makers and business leaders, and significantly contributes to a better understanding of EU policies..." said EU Research Commission Janez Potočnik, who spoke at the plenary session alongside MEDEA+ Cluster Chairman Arthur van der Poel. Polish MEP Jerzy Buzek was also a welcome visitor to the stand. How to set up a EUREKA project at CeBit 2006 With attendance figures of nearly half a million visitors, CeBIT was the ideal platform to demonstrate the ease with which a EUREKA project can be set up. The Initiative and the econtec Umbrella were represented on the stand of Flanders multimedia valley. This year's event had a special focus on SMEs this market group represents over 40 % of EUREKA project participants

3 > April New Chairman of EUREKA Advisory Committee announced The Finn Kari-Pekka Estola was named as the new chairman of the EUREKA Advisory Committee (EAC), a group consisting of senior European industrial and scientific representatives, providing a structural dialogue between project participants ('users') and representatives of EUREKA, and giving advice on the activities and policy of EUREKA. The EAC was established in 2005 under the Dutch EUREKA Chair. EUROAGRI+ raises visibility at Anuga FoodTec "We're one of the few exhibitors here that is giving something for nothing advice, expertise, market know-how, and hopefully some good reasons to launch a project, too," said Jean- Claude Villettaz, chairman of the EUROAGRI+ Umbrella in the food, feed and agriculture sector of its successful presence at this event, in Cologne, Germany. The new-look EUREKA News magazine was also launched at this event with great success. > June Prague Network meetings welcome new Umbrellas, Clusters... Four new Umbrellas were endorsed during Network meetings in June: EUREKA TOURISM, as the follow-on to EUROTOURISM; LOGCHAIN+ (successor of LOGCHAIN) on intermodal transport; EULASNET II (following on from EULASNET) on laser and optical technologies, and EUREKABUILD for construction technologies. A new Cluster was formed through the merger of EURIMUS II and PIDEA+, labelled as EURIPIDES. And ITEA 2 was endorsed....and two new members Malta and Ukraine became full members of EUREKA, judging the Initiative to be one of the most effective tools to boost their collaboration in European R&D. The Czech Republic became the first Central and Eastern European country to chair EUREKA when it took up the Chairmanship on 1 July 2005, in the Initiative's 20 th anniversary year. The strategies established focused on boosting industry involvement, raising EUREKA's political profile, strengthening EUREKA links to other European research programmes and funding mechanisms, especially the EU Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) and reinforcing member commitment to increase project generation, to ensure the future competitiveness of European industry. The period July 2005 to June 2006 proved to be the best year in EUREKA's history for Cluster growth. Investment in projects from public and private sources totalled 1.2 billion euro. The involvement of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in EUREKA projects steadied at some 42 %, proving that the EUREKA Initiative continues to be the first choice for many small businesses embarking on market-oriented research projects. Key achievements during our Chairmanship year included: > The organisation of the EUREKA 20 th Anniversary Forum in October 2005, where key players in industry, public and private funding bodies and national authorities debated important issues regarding the future of European research and innovation, and the Prague Resolution was developed; > Improved complementarities with the FP7 through the development of Article 169- and 171-based initiatives, enabling EUREKA involvement in both the SME-focussed Eurostars Programme and proposed Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) in embedded software and nanoelectronics; > Member countries announced 185 new individual projects with a total budget of 259 million euro, and two new Clusters, ITEA 2 and EURIPIDES, with a forecasted investment of 4.2 billion euro, were labelled. Meanwhile, there was the highest-ever generation of investment in Cluster projects: some 50 Cluster projects began, with a value exceeding 1 billion euro; > The welcoming of two new members to the network: Malta and Ukraine. I am convinced that the incoming Italian Chairmanship will do an outstanding job, based on their creative plans for the Chairmanship year. I wish it the best of luck in achieving its ambitious objectives of increasing EUREKA's reach into the Mediterranean region, increasing project generation, and further exploiting EUREKA's wide-ranging expertise within the field of industrial innovation, as well as extending cooperation already established with the European Commission. Petr Křenek, Chairman of the High Level Group, Czech Chairmanship year Introduction 3

4 Network overview Key statistics Overall funding for EUREKA projects during the Czech Chair year amounted to over 1.26 billion euro committed from both public and private sources, making it one of the best years, funding-wise, in EUREKA's 21-year > New projects by member (Clusters and individual projects combined) > Ongoing projects by member (total investment 3.99 billion euro) history. Funding included 185 individual projects (including Umbrellas) for 259 million euro, and 50 new projects in the Clusters for over 1 billion euro. Austria 20 M Iceland 1 M Romania 1 M Belgium 64 M Ireland 0 M Russian Fed. 2 M Croatia 1 M Israel 38 M San Marino 3 M Cyprus 0,3 M Italy 40 M Serbia and Mont. 3 M Czech Republic 15 M Latvia 2 M Slovak Republic 1 M Denmark 2 M Lithuania 14 M Slovenia 8 M Estonia 2 M Luxembourg 1 M Spain 132 M Finland 54 M Monaco 0 M Sweden 32 M France 341 M The Netherlands 206 M Switzerland 7 M Germany 194 M Norway 18 M Turkey 7 M Greece 16 M Poland 6 M United Kingdom 17 M Hungary 3 M Portugal 4 M Austria 113 M Iceland 5 M Romania 13 M Belgium 217 M Ireland 8 M Russian Fed. 15 M Croatia 11 M Israel 75 M San Marino 3 M Cyprus 0,5 M Italy 273 M Serbia and Mont. 6 M Czech Republic 45 M Latvia 3 M Slovak Republic 6 M Denmark 18 M Lithuania 7 M Slovenia 25 M Estonia 3 M Luxembourg 6 M Spain 346 M Finland 134 M Monaco 1 M Sweden 65 M France 1153 M The Netherlands 530 M Switzerland 60 M Germany 543 M Norway 59 M Turkey 16 M Greece 56 M Poland 43 M United Kingdom 102 M Hungary 6 M Portugal 26 M European Union 0 M ICT 85 % Transport 2 % Environment 2 % Biotechnology 3 % Manufacturing 7 % Energy 1 % > New projects per thematic areas EUREKA projects (M ) / GDP (M ) 0,159 % 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0,1 0,0 0,002 % 0,002 % 0,002 % 0,003 % 0,003 % 0,004 % 0,004 % 0,007 % 0,007 % 0,007 % 0,007 % 0,008 % 0,009 % 0,009 % 0,010 % 0,010 % 0,011 % 0,011 % 0,011 % 0,011 % 0,012 % 0,015 % 0,015 % 0,016 % 0,018 % 0,019 % 0,024 % 0,025 % 0,034 % 0,034 % 0,036 % 0,038 % 0,048 % Cyprus Turkey United Kingdom Ireland Hungary Denmark Slovak Republic Romania Italy Poland Portugal Switzerland Germany Latvia Luxembourg Norway Sweden Estonia Croatia Serbia and Montenegro Greece Czech Republic Spain Iceland Lithuania Austria France Belgium Slovenia Israel The Netherlands Finland Monaco San Marino > EUREKA member participation in relation to GDP (EUREKA as a tool towards achieving the European 3 % R&D objective) 4

5 EUREKA FORUM: reinforcing the commitment of members and industry The Czech Chair addressed its aims of boosting industry involvement, raising political awareness of EUREKA and reinforcing member commitment to increased project generation at the EUREKA Forum in October The Forum, held in Prague, was a milestone effort in working towards these goals. The Forum's primary objective was to raise the political profile of the EUREKA Initiative and to reinforce the commitment of member countries in ensuring the stability and predictability of national public funding for innovative research. It was also an opportunity to look back at EUREKA's achievements over the last 20 years. "By examining the evolution of the Initiative over two decades, we are helping enable EUREKA to move forward with a clearer vision for supporting and developing European competitiveness and growth," said Petr Křenek, the EUREKA High Level Group Chairman. Building bridges to stronger European dialogue In its Chairmanship programme, the Czech Chair expressed a desire to raise awareness of EUREKA amongst European policymakers, specifically the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) of the European Parliament, one of whose responsibilities is the EU's research policy and the application of new technologies. Activities throughout the Chairmanship year culminated in a number of amendments proposed by the European Parliament for the Seventh Framework Programme. These amendments address both the Article 169-based programme Eurostars, and the involvement of EUREKA Clusters MEDEA+ and ITEA 2 in the ICT JTIs in nanoelectronics and embedded systems. In late 2005, EUREKA Network representatives were invited to several hearings on the Seventh Framework Programme, including one sponsored by Polish MEP and FP7 rapporteur Jerzy Buzek and another by Dutch MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij. In early 2006, Irish MEP Avril Doyle hosted an event at the European Parliament. Discussions led to the request by attendees for a better understanding of the complementarities between EUREKA and the Framework Programme, culminating in the publication of a report sponsored by Avril Doyle. An event in May, with the presence of the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers was organised, focusing on the Eurostars programme for researchintensive SMEs. The last activity under the Czech Chairmanship was a meeting taking place at the European Parliament in June, bringing together key industry spokespeople from EUREKA Clusters. The focus of this event, made possible through the support of Avril Doyle and Lambert van Nistelrooij, was the role of EUREKA Clusters and their involvement in the proposed ICT Joint Technology Initiatives within the FP7. Ministerial Conference: Contributing to the reinforcement of Europe's global competitiveness The XXII EUREKA Ministerial Conference in Prague on 9 June was chaired by Petra Buzková, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports. European EUREKA ministers gathered at this biennial event to discuss the current and future dilemmas facing Europe that of maintaining and improving its competitiveness in a global market. The ministers noted EUREKA and the Czech Chair's continued efforts towards the 2002 European Council Barcelona objective 1, notably in encouraging increased private investment in R&D. Ministers at the conference also encouraged EUREKA member countries and the European Commission to continue the development of Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) in the Information Communication Technology area, specifically nanotechnology and embedded software, involving the EUREKA Clusters MEDEA+ and ITEA 2. The ICT JTIs will help enable cohesion between national and EU support mechanisms, in line with the Strategic Research Agenda. This closer association aims to synchronise Clusters and JTI project calls, and ultimately to increase the total volume of industrial R&D projects through combined private, national and EU financing (public-private partnerships or PPPs). They also welcomed other new forms of support for industrial innovation being developed with the European Commission. The Ministerial Conference welcomed the new members of EUREKA, Malta and Ukraine, and encouraged both countries to participate actively in the Network. It praised the winners of this year's Lynx and Lillehammer awards. Then the symbols of the Chairmanship, the hammer and bell, were passed by the Czech EUREKA Chairmanship to the Italian delegation. This exchange symbolised the beginning of Italy's efforts to continue with helping European industry to shape tomorrow's innovations today. 1 At the summit on Barcelona in 2002, the EU-Member States came to the agreement that the level of the GDP (gross domestic product) spent on R&D in 2010 should be fixed at 3 % ("Barcelona objective"). 5

6 The best of European innovation receives deserved acclaim Each year, EUREKA recognises and rewards the vision and commitment required to transform a groundbreaking idea into a successful product. The Lillehammer Award acknowledges contributions made to improving Europe's environment, developing sustainable solutions to waste and pollution problems. The Lynx Award pays tribute to fast-growing SMEs that have brought a successful innovative venture to the market. Both Awards were presented during the XXII EUREKA Ministerial Conference in Prague Lillehammer Award: Cleaner, safer water and textile dyeing The Lillehammer Award was shared by two projects, both having developed technologies with outstanding environmental benefits. This is the fourth time such a double award has been made a clear indication of the exceptional standard of the competing projects. EUREKA Σ! 2497 EUROENVIRON BIOMAC has devised a vastly improved method of bacterial waste water treatment capable of degrading the most toxic and difficult pollutants. EUREKA Σ! 2625 EUROENVIRON ECDVAT's new electrochemical dyeing process allows re-use of materials, and a substantial reduction in both the chemicals used and the waste discharged Lynx Award: Outstanding achievement for Croatian SME The 2006 EUREKA Lynx Award for outstanding technological and commercial achievement was won by EcoEngineering, a Croatian SME. EcoEngineering was a partner in the EUROENVIRON BIOMAC project also; contributing essential expertise on the micro-organisms best suited for a system to treat industrial and municipal waste water. The award was presented by Jiří Havel, Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. EcoEngineering is the first Croatian company to win a EUREKA award. 6

7 From Paris to Prague and beyond... Outpacing the USA and Asia and battling for market share and job opportunities in a globalised economy is widely acknowledged as one of the most important challenges Europe and the EUREKA Initiative is facing. EUREKA is distinguished from other Europe-wide mechanisms by its focus on linking knowledge acquisition to early exploitation in the marketplace. It also pioneered research cooperation between eastern and western Europe far in advance of EU enlargement. "The Czech Chair has built upon the efforts made since the last Ministerial Conference in Paris to develop new ways to encourage innovation, rightly recognised as the engine of Europe's economic growth and competitiveness. Innovative businesses, universities, research centres and SMEs are underpinned by a variety of national and European R&D programmes, and the Czech Chair proudly played its part in setting concrete foundations for future collaboration between the EU and the EUREKA Initiative," says Miroslav Janeček, Chair of the National Project Coordinator group. The Czech Chairmanship has helped the EUREKA Initiative make a major step forward in ensuring the success of European industry particularly through encouraging member country commitment to both its Individual and Cluster projects, but also through the furthering of new partnerships, enabling new technologies to be brought to the market faster and more effectively. The Eurostars Programme The EUREKA Initiative has long been the champion of innovating SMEs, greatly thanks to its fast, flexible and 'bottomup' procedures. Project participants define the shape and form of the project, rather than having to adhere to a pre-determined structure. However, one of the main difficulties EUREKA continues to encounter is that, while able to ease a company's access to national R&D funding, it is unable to easily synchronise the granting of funding by the different countries involved in a project. The Eurostars programme is set to change that. The brainchild of the EUREKA Initiative, Eurostars is unique in its kind. It combines the successful bottom-up approach of EUREKA with joint financial backing from both national funding instruments and the European Community, through the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Eurostars aims to stimulate and support a niche market of research-performing SMEs in their innovative and often high-risk R&D projects, bringing more European technologies to the world market, and even faster than before. Eurostars is targeting ambitious, innovative and market-driven SMEs, operating on the international market. Project participants from this target sector, applying for the EUREKA label, can be fast-tracked onto the Eurostars programme, which follows the EUREKA structure, in terms of its fast and flexible procedures, but offers added value through harmonised national and EU funding. As with standard EUREKA projects, the project consortium must be international and comprise of participants from at least two EUREKA member countries, being led by an R&D-performing SME. Eurostars will be centrally managed, with close cooperation with the European Commission and national research funding organisations. Project assessment will be based on a common set of agreed criteria carried out with the assistance of an independent panel of experts. At government level, 22 EUREKA countries have already committed to Eurostars and the remainder has indicated their strong support for the programme. Each participating country allocates a dedicated Eurostars budget to be spent only if a proposal from that country is accepted as a Eurostars project administered by the Eurostars Secretariat in Brussels. This body will also administrate the programme and promote its calls. 7

8 Published November 2006 by the EUREKA Secretariat All information correct at time of printing Publisher: Michel Vieillefosse EUREKA Secretariat, rue Neerveld 107, 1200 Bruxelles, Belgium Tel: Fax: eureka.secretariat@es.eureka.be EUREKA AR0506/8P/NOV06/EN