Green science to save the economy

EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potočnik has made a pact with high-level representatives of the automotive, construction and manufacturing sectors to divert Framework Programme 7 funding to three large-scale partnerships focusing on the use of clean technologies in each sector.

The move, part of the EU’s Economic Recovery plan, will see €1.6 billion from Framework Programme 7 flow into the three projects, “Factories of the Future”, “Energy-efficient Buildings” and “Green Cars.” This will be matched by the industry partners in staff and other resources. The first call for bids to take part in the projects is expected in July.

A joint statement published after the meeting on Wednesday said, “The three [projects] represent a powerful means of boosting research efforts in three large industrial sectors - automotive, construction and manufacturing - which have been particularly affected by the economic downturn and where innovation can significantly contribute towards a more green and sustainable economy.”

Work is now in hand to develop implantation plans for Factories of the Future, which will receive €1.2 billion of R&D funding; Energy-efficient Buildings, which will get €1 billion; and Green Cars, a project worth a total of €5 billion, of which €1 billion is for research.

The Commission will contribute 50 per cent of the total R&D budget from Framework Programme 7, with matching investment coming from the private sector.

It may be hard to spot the difference between these projects and the Joint Technology Initiatives with industry that have been launched with such fanfare.

The joint statement said the public private partnership approach has the advantage of:

• giving industry a leading role in the definition of the strategic priorities and the implementation of the research.

• setting out an integrated work programme lasting over several years, with a pre-defined budget to ensure continuity and allow industry to make long-term investment plans.

• projects that go from basic and applied research through to validation and large-scale demonstration, with an increased emphasis on impact and exploitation; and increased opportunities to support innovation in SMEs.

First calls for research projects will be published in July with deadlines at the turn of the year, which could allow the first projects to start in Spring 2010.