Viewpoint: innovation and collaboration are the pillars of Europe's cleantech leadership

European industries must become stronger if they are to cope with fierce global competition and other future challenges. The European Commission's Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal provide the basis for a robust European strategy, with specific actions to be taken. And both initiatives put innovation centre-stage. This gives Europe’s universities of technology, such as the members of the EuroTech Universities Alliance, an important role as a driving force for innovation and entrepreneurship.

It is also excellent news that the Commission has adopted this month a strategic plan for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, addressing the persistent skills shortages in this area that limit our global competitiveness. Europe's universities of technology are well-placed to increase the number of engineers and researchers they educate, but given the demographic structure in Europe, we will also have to bring in foreign talent. 

In consequence, Europe must try to attract the very best and brightest from across the globe by offering them a well-equipped scientific environment where science still speaks for itself and not for politics, where researchers are free to argue their case for change without fear of retribution. It’s time to start something like the Destination Europe programme that aimed to attract US talent to Europe a decade ago. 

Within Europe, we must work to develop our innovation ecosystems. Both universities and industries benefit from close cooperation when academic research is combined with real-world applications. Europe’s universities are keen to strengthen their cooperation and links with the private sector. Most of them already have strong links with industrial partners, which helps them focus their research and facilitate the smooth transfer of knowledge to the market. 

Several universities of technology are exploring ways to go even further, moving beyond their traditional roles of research and education by becoming so-called fourth generation universities, orchestrating their own high-tech innovation ecosystems. The Eindhoven University of Technology is an example, working within the Brainport Eindhoven innovation ecosystem. 

Some industrial companies are taking a similar approach. Siemens, for example, has established the Siemens Research and Innovation Ecosystems, which connect internal and external stakeholders, researchers, employees, customers, start-up founders, students and creative innovative minds. In these ecosystems, technical universities can strengthen their role as drivers of innovation and economic growth, addressing global challenges and securing Europe's competitive position on the world stage.

Boosting Entrepreneurship

Over the past decades, Europe’s universities of technology have established themselves as a solid breeding ground for entrepreneurship and tech start-ups across a wide range of sectors, from advanced manufacturing to artificial intelligence, health tech and clean energy technology. 

All we have to do now is to ensure that these start-ups can scale-up, remain in European hands, and compete in global markets. Substantial national and European support, beginning with innovation-friendly policies, fewer regulatory burdens and substantial funding, will be needed for that to happen. Here, again, the ecosystems play a significant role helping start-ups to expand in their markets. 

The complexity and dependencies of products and solutions has become so immense that no company, not even the biggest, can go it alone. Various forms of cooperation are possible, from agreeing standards that allow common interfaces to be established, all the way up to long-term partnerships with joint projects. 

Established industrial companies are well aware that start-ups are not annoying competition but potential future partners, and they do their best do support young companies. Siemens, for example, has devised a start-up programme that contains different levels of possible cooperation according to company needs.

Of course, Europe’s universities of technology can only play their role because they do excellent science. That is absolutely a precondition for success. Fostering an environment that prioritises excellence in science ensures a pipeline of innovative technologies and start-ups capable of shaping a more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive future.

Excellence should therefore remain the main criterion for selecting projects under national and European funding programmes such as the successor programme to Horizon Europe.

Both tech companies and Europe’s universities of technology understand the necessity of first-class academic research and ecosystems to tackle future challenges. Let’s walk the talk and help boost the EU’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Robert-Jan Smits is the President of the Eindhoven University of Technology. Mirjam Storim is Head of Strategy and Technology Relations at Foundational Technologies, Siemens.