Industrial policy: recommendations to support Europe's leadership in six strategic business areas

Submitted by Alina Danieles… on 06 November 2019

On 5 November 2019, the European Commission published recommendations by a group of experts, the Strategic Forum on Important Projects of Common European Interest, to boost Europe's competitiveness and global leadership in six strategic and future-oriented industrial sectors: Connected, clean and autonomous vehicles; Hydrogen technologies and systems; Smart health; Industrial Internet of Things; Low-carbon industry; and Cybersecurity.

Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “Our single market, one of the largest markets in the world, is a unique springboard for our industry to compete globally. To make the most of it, we need to collectively invest in being at the forefront of technological development. We have made a good start in areas such as batteries, plastic recycling and high-performance computing. And we can do more. In that vein, I welcome today's expert group recommendations for six additional strategic value chains that the EU's industrial policy should focus on.”

Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) comprise innovative research projects that often entail significant risks and require joint, well-coordinated efforts and transnational investments by public authorities and industries from several Member States. By investing jointly in Europe's industrial strengths and assets, the EU can generate jobs and growth across sectors and regions and strengthen its role on the global stage.

In addition to recommendations specific to each of the value chains, the report also identifies horizontal enabling actions:

  • Pooling public and private resources at EU, national and regional levels; The EU should coordinate these joint investments, targeting first industrial deployment and the commercialisation of new technologies;
  • Deepening and integrating the single market through regulations and new standards;
  • Mapping and developing the skills needed across the value chains;
  • Making innovation systems in Europe more dynamic, with a focus on regional strengths and public-private partnerships;
  • Setting a governance process to monitor technological and industrial changes, identify emerging strategic value chains and evaluate the progress of work on these value chains.

The report is part of the Juncker Commission's efforts to strengthen Europe's industrial base. It will also contribute to the next Commission's work on a new long-term strategy for Europe's industrial future.

Please read the full press release here.

The news was published on europa.eu website here. © European Union, 2019

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