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Nanotechnologies top the European Commission’s List of Key Enabling Technologies for Society and Economy
Published: Friday 23 October 2009
The European Commission has published a communication entitled ‘Preparing for our future: Developing a common strategy for key enabling technologies in the EU’ (Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, COM(2009) 512 final), which outlines the importance of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) for society and economy:
'A significant part of the goods and services that will be available in the market in 2020 are as yet unknown, but the main driving force behind their development will be the deployment of key enabling technologies (KETs). Those nations and regions mastering these technologies will be at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy, which is a precondition for ensuring welfare, prosperity and security of its citizens. Hence the deployment of KETs in the EU is not only of strategic importance but is indispensible.’
Based on current global research and market trends the following could be regarded as the most strategically relevant KETs, given their economic potential, contribution to solving societal challenges and knowledge intensity:
Nanotechnology holds the promise of leading to the development of smart nano and micro devices and systems and to radical breakthroughs in vital fields such as healthcare, energy, environment and manufacturing;
Micro- and nanoelectronics, including semiconductors, are essential for all goods and services which need intelligent control in sectors as diverse as automotive and transportation, aeronautics and space. Smart industrial control systems permit more efficient management of electricity generation, storage, transport and consumption through intelligent electrical grids and devices;
Photonics is a multidisciplinary domain dealing with light, encompassing its generation, detection and management. Among other things it provides the technological basis for the economical conversion of sunlight to electricity which is important for the production of renewable energy, and a variety of electronic components and equipment such as photodiodes, LEDs and lasers.
Advanced materials offer major improvements in a wide variety of different fields, e.g. in aerospace, transport, building and health care. They facilitate recycling, lowering the carbon footprint and energy demand as well as limiting the need for raw materials that are scarce in Europe;
Biotechnology brings cleaner and sustainable process alternatives for industrial and agri-food operations. It will for example allow the progressive replacement of non-renewable materials currently used in various industries with renewable resources, however the scope of applications is just at the beginning; [...]’
The Communication echoes many recommendations made in the SEMI® White Paper entitled 6 Recommendations to the European Union and National Governments to Increase Europe’s Microelectronic Industry Competitiveness.
Follow this link to download the European Commission Communication (COM(2009) 512 final).