SPIRE joins new KET HLG

On February 7 in Grenoble, Vice President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani announced the establishment of a new High Level Group (HLG) on Key Enabling Technologies (KETs). SPIRE will be directly represented in the HLG by Markus Asch, President of EUnited. In addition Lionel Platteuw, Executive Director of EUnited and Vice-President of A.SPIRE, will participate in the Sherpa working group on behalf of SPIRE.

The KETs are six priority technologies - nanotechnology, micro and nano-electronics, photonics, advanced materials, industrial biotechnology and advanced manufacturing systems – that have been identified as important levers for innovation and competitiveness in Europe.

"Clearly the sectors involved in the SPIRE PPP are intimately involved in the successful development and implementation of these technologies in Europe, and see KETs as an important part of EU industrial strategy," said Loredana Ghinea, Executive Director of A.SPIRE. "We are honoured to be part of this important initiative and count on synergies between SPIRE and KETs work."

The first meeting of the new KET HLG will be on 27 February and the 'Sherpa' working group will meet on a twice-monthly basis to support the work of the HLG itself. The full HLG is scheduled to meet twice a year and will develop and implement the focus given to KETs in the new strategy on industrial policy announced last year. The HLG will advise the Commission and monitor progress in the development and deployment of KETs and will promote the development of KET policies in EU member states.