First meeting of EU’s horizon scanning group

The group is charged with horizon scanning, to come up with suggestions for likely future applications of nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics.

Each of these technologies is viewed as being of exceptional importance for shaping the industrial future of the EU, and the group has been set up to explore their potential.

European Commission Vice-Presidents Antonio Tajani and Neelie Kroes and Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn were all present at the first meeting.

Tajani, who Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said, “Most of the goods and services that will be available in 5 to 10 years are yet unknown, but surely they will be based on key enabling technologies. The advice of the high-level expert group as to how to deploy these technologies is crucial for the renewal of our industrial base. The work of this group is another tool with which the EU can achieve its Europe 2020 objectives.”

The global market for nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics, industrial biotechnology, photonics, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing systems is estimated at between €500 – 570 billion annually, with expected annual growth rates between 5 and 46 per cent.

The mandate of the high-level expert group is to develop a shared long-term strategy on how to improve the deployment of key enabling technologies at European level. Based on this work the Commission will report back to the Council and the European Parliament in 2011.

The group is headed by Jean Therme, Director of the French Atomic Energy Commission. Members include,Giorgio Anania, Chairman of Cube Optics; Andrea Benassi, Secretary General of UEAPME; Peter Bauer, CEO of Infineon; Carlo Bozotti, CEO of STMicroelectronics; and Hans-Jörg Bullinger, President of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.