EU research priorities aligned to industry’s needs
European technology platforms (ETPs) are industry-led stakeholder fora, recognized by the European Commission as key actors in driving innovation, knowledge transfer and boosting European competitiveness. The concept was established by the European Commission in 2003, at the request of the European Council, with a view to giving key stakeholders – industry, national and European public authorities, the scientific and financial communities, as well as consumers and users – the chance to work together around a common vision for the development of the technologies concerned.
ETPs develop strategic research and innovation agendas, roadmaps and implementation plans, encourage industry participation in the European research framework programmes, foster networking opportunities between the sector’s value chains and identify chances for transnational research cooperation among its partners. They also function as a focal point for external advice to the European Commission, supporting the programming and implementation of the European research framework programmes. Relevant aspects of the strategic research and innovation agendas are taken into consideration in the European Commission funding programmes.
FTP collaboration with other ETPs
Among the 38 ETPs recognized by the European Commission, the following express complimentary or similar interests to the forest-based sector’s research and innovation agenda:
ECTP – European Construction Technology Platform
http://www.ectp.org/
ETP SMR – Sustainable Mineral Resources
www.etpsmr.org/
Suschem – European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry
www.suschem.org
Textile-Platform (Fibres, Textiles, Clothing ETP)
www.textile-platform.eu
For the full list of ETPs recognized by the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?pg=etp
