“EUROPEAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEFENCE-RELATED CLUSTERS” - An EDA workshop

Submitted by Alina Danieles… on 14 March 2017

Strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) is at the core of the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) mission and since its very establishment EDA has been identifying and implementing concrete measures to support it.

The June 2016 Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS) stresses that “Union funds to support defence R&T … and full use of the EDA’s potential are essential … for European security and defence efforts underpinned by a strong European defence industry”. “A sustainable, innovative and competitive European defence industry is essential for Europe’s strategic autonomy and for a credible Common Security and Defence Policy. It can also stimulate growth and jobs”.

Within the above context, EDA would like to invite any defence-related cluster to a workshop on “EUROPEAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEFENCE-RELATED CLUSTERS”, taking place at EDA premises on 28 March 2017, from 10.00 to 17.30.

Representatives from Ministries of Defence may also attend the workshop with a view to supporting potential follow-up actions.

The main aim is to address current and forthcoming European opportunities for defence-related clusters by encompassing:

-          both European Commission’s (EC) and EDA’s support to defence innovation and industry cooperation,

-          the EU funding available for defence under the “Preparatory Action”,

-        the EDA’s successful methodology in assisting access to the European Structural Funds for R&T projects and the forthcoming EDA’s procedure supporting projects enhancing key skills and competencies in defence;

-          the EU COSME Programme 2014-2020 analysed with a defence-related perspective.

A specific objective is to give the opportunity to clusters to develop cooperation with other clusters through a dedicated C2C session. This session is organised also in view of supporting applications to potential COSME-funded calls for proposals for cross-border cluster partnerships.

Attendance to the workshop by e-mailing the attached registration form to the European Synergies and Innovation Directorate at esi [at] eda.europa.eu by the 24th of March 2017, noon.

The EDA’s points of contact for additional information or clarification are Ms Isabelle DESJEUX [Policy Officer Industry Relations and Support, isabelle.desjeux [at] eda.europa.eu, +32 (0)2 504 2953] and Mr Pierre DI TORO [Policy Officer Wider EU Policies - Access to EU funding, pierre.ditoro [at] eda.europa.eu, +32 (0)2 504 2862].

Attachment
Share this Article