European Technology Platforms and industrial change (ETPs)

The EESC recognises that ETP- related industry sectors have a fundamental position in the value chain: many innovations are dependent on basic processes (manufacturing, processing industries, forestry, robotics) and materials (chemicals, steels ...).

The EESC calls for a more effective implementation of the EC regulatory framework simplification process (including participation in EU projects), for increased effort in reducing fragmentation and competition between institutional initiatives, for better coordinated policies and for increased visibility in the future at institutional level, in order to make ETPs more effective.

The Committee considers that difficulties in the involvement of SMEs should be solved through the constant benchmarking with the most successful examples

The related national and regional platforms mirror ETP structure at MS level. The EESC stresses that complementary access to Smart Specialisation – Structural Funds at national and regional level for the NTPs should be encouraged and facilitated.

The EESC calls on the EU institutions to work on improving international cooperation, in order to attract state-of-the-art global expertise, in the interest of EU exploitation and commercialisation.

The EESC congratulates the ETPs on their role, as a link to demand-side innovation tools which complement R&I actions and accelerate market up-take. ETPs are also key to the deployment of R&I results. The Committee calls for increased use of Coordination Support Actions to drive value chain collaborations.

The Committee underlines the fact that ETPs may also have a substantial impact on social and societal issues, particularly on the re-orientation of public education and Vocational Educational Training (VET) systems to the needs of the European industries and manufacturing sectors.