Potocnik Invites Companies to Take Part in Technology Platforms
The European paradox is that "we are strong in creating knowledge, but weak in using it", European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik told the panel of leading Slovenian managers that took place in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) on Friday.
According to Potocnik, European and national technology platforms and establishing cooperation between knowledge and industry, are the key elements in putting European knowledge into use, which is clearly shown in the EUR 55bn budget of the 7th Framework Programme.
Of the four basic blocks of the research programme, Potocnik highlighted Co-operation as presenting the best opportunities for Slovenian companies. He explained that Co-operation represented 60% of all funds allocated for the programme and that it supported research and applicative use.
Slovenian companies will also be able to draw funds from other sources, one of them being the newly established Risk scheme, a financial instrument drawn up by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, said Potocnik.
This financial instrument will enable the drawing of funds for programmes involving greater risks, with EUR 10bn allocated in the form of favourable loans, Potocnik said. He moreover mentioned the opportunities coming from the recently adopted energy bundle.
There are currently 31 European technology platforms, which are expected to start cooperating, said Potocnik, stressing that the future of such forums lay foremost in better structured national and European funding sources and in the implementation of the European innovation strategy.
There are currently 22 technology platforms in Slovenia and they are a mirror image of the European platforms, Potocnik said. According to the European Commission, Slovenia has been successful in exploiting the concept of the platforms, which would not have been possible without political will and sufficient funds.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|