Memo: Agreement with EIB for breakthrough of Key Enabling Technologies

At the inaugural meeting of the High Level Group on Key Enabling Technologies, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank that will pave the way for improved access to finance for investments in key enabling technologies.

KETs - nanotechnology, micro-/nanoelectronics, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics and advanced manufacturing technologies – are of exceptional importance for shaping the future innovation and competitiveness of the EU. The global market in KETs is forecast to grow from about EUR 650bn in 2008 to over EUR 1tn in 2015. World leading industries in fields of automotive, chemicals, aeronautics, space, health and energy are all users of KETs.

To ensure the EU can fully participate in this growth and indeed continue its leading position, a new High-Level Group on KETs was launched 27 February 2013 to assist the Commission in the implementation of the European strategy to boost the industrial production of KETs-based products in Europe.

• Primary Source

European Commission: SPEECH/13/165: Funding Europe's tech industry future http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-165_en.htm

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