Summary
Industry participants at the European Technology Platform (ETP) for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) have adopted a plan to focus European R&D spending on eight promising areas for the chemical & biotechnological industries. SusChem being one of the most successful & politically-savvy ETPs, one can expect the SusChem plan to be well taken into account in the € 48bn EU Research Framework Programme (FP7, 2006-2013).
Analysis
Industry participants at the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) have adopted a plan to focus European R&D spending on eight promising areas for the chemical & biotechnological industries: bio-based economy; energy; health care; information and communication technologies; nanotechnology; sustainable quality of life; sustainable product and process design; & transport.
[SusChem is a ‘European Technology Platform’ formed by the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and biotech industry group EuropaBio. SusChem involves all major companies in these industries. ETPs are “multi-stakeholder forums for defining and implementing Strategic Research Agendas to support innovation in industrially important fields of science and technology for Europe”. As such, they serve as a conduit for major companies & industries to involve the European Commission in their strategy; to discuss regulatory issues; & to plan R&D so that public funds may tail in with industry priorities].
SusChem is one of the most successful & politically-savvy ETPs. The EC in turn is well aware of the importance of the chemical & biotechnological industries for the competitivity of Europe. Furthermore, both parties are keen to put the REACH (Registration, Evaluation & Authorisation of Chemicals) dispute to rest. One can thus expect the SusChem plan to be well taken into account in the €48 bn EU Research Framework Programme (FP7, 2006-2013).
