European Technology Platform

A European Technology Platform (ETP) is a European network bringing together researchers, industry and other relevant stakeholders in a particular technological field in order to foster European research and development in the concerned area. The first European Technology Platform, ACARE, was launched in 2001 in the field of aeronautics.

Formation

In a first phase, stakeholders of a specific area, led by industry, come together to agree on a common vision. The second phase is the defining of a Strategic Research Agenda, setting out the medium- to long-term objectives for the technology. In a third phase, stakeholders implement the Strategic Research Agenda with the mobilisation of significant financial and human resources.

Goals

European Technology Platforms provide frameworks to define research and development priorities, timeframes and action plans on different strategically important issues. Some European Technology Platforms have become engaged in public-private partnerships,the Joint Technology Initiatives, further contributing to the renewed Lisbon Strategy and to the development of a European Research Area of knowledge for growth. They are proving to be powerful actors in the development of European research policy, in particular in orienting the Seventh Research Framework Programme to better meet the needs of industry. What is more, ETPs mobilise public authorities at national and regional levels.

Areas

ETPs are active in areas of industrial relevance where achieving Europe's future growth, competitiveness and sustainability objectives is dependent upon major research and technological advances in the medium to long term. At the moment, 34 ETPs are active

* Advanced Engineering Materials and Technologies - EuMaT
* Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe - ACARE
* Embedded Computing Systems - ARTEMIS
* European Biofuels Technology Platform - Biofuels
* European Construction Technology Platform - ECTP
* European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council - ENIAC
* European Rail Research Advisory Council - ERRAC
* European Road Transport Research Advisory Council - ERTRAC
* European Space Technology Platform - ESTP
* European Steel Technology Platform - ESTEP
* European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future - SmartGrids
* European Technology Platform for Wind Energy - TPWind
* European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration - EPoSS
* Food for Life - Food
* Forest based sector Technology Platform - Forestry
* Future Manufacturing Technologies - MANUFUTURE
* Future Textiles and Clothing - FTC
* Global Animal Health - GAH
* Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform - HFP
* Industrial Safety ETP - IndustrialSafety
* Innovative Medicines Initiative - IMI
* Integral Satcom Initiative - ISI
* Mobile and Wireless Communications - eMobility
* Nanotechnologies for Medical Applications - NanoMedicine
* Networked and Electronic Media - NEM
* Networked European Software and Services Initiative - NESSI
* Photonics21 - Photonics
* Photovoltaic Technology Platform - Photovoltaics
* Plants for the Future - Plants
* Robotics - EUROP
* Sustainable Chemistry - SusChem
* Water Supply and Sanitation Technology Platform - WSSTP
* Waterborne ETP - Waterborne
* Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants - ZEP

External links

* [http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/home_en.html Official website]
* [ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/technology-platforms/docs/faq_160807.pdf faq]