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ENDR members review how to shape their network beyond its first year
ENDR members met for the first time on 26 October in Brussels. Participants got a first-hand update on key developments in the area of dual use and defence, with a focus on the European Defence Fund and the opportunities it is opening up for Europe’s defence industry.
Participants reviewed progress and what has been achieved since the launch of ENDR in October 2016. They pro-actively shared ideas on how the network could be further strengthened and expanded. The Commission will incorporate this valuable input into a paper on the way forward and ENDR’s future activities. Stay tuned to find out what is coming up.
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Defence sector eligible for Erasmus+ 2018 calls supporting skills
Did you know that defence-related skills projects are eligible for Erasmus+ funding? In a call-for-proposals that is open until 28 February 2018, a consortium of 8 partners from 4 countries (which must include 3 companies/associations and 3 education and training providers), can apply for a Sector Skills Alliance (Lot 2) to design and deliver training content for vocational programmes for one or several related professions in the defence sector. Particular focus is put on work-based learning for skills required by the labour market.
Alternatively, a consortium of 6 partners from 3 countries (which must include 2 enterprises and 2 universities) can apply for funding for a Knowledge Alliance to develop defence-related curricula, entrepreneurial skills for boosting start-ups and spin-offs, or other solutions for the sector's challenges.
Successful proposals can receive up to €1 million in grants for up to 3 years.
More information on Sector Skills Alliances or Knowledge Alliances. Find the 2018 Erasmus+ call here.
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Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation and Dual Use technologies
EU regions aiming to generate industrial investment projects via a bottom-up approach can turn to the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation (S3P-Industry) for support. Partnerships co-developed and co-led by the regions themselves under this platform ensure an active participation of industry and related business organisations such as clusters, as well as research institutions, academia and civil society.
Managed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville, the platform currently has 11 partnerships in various phases of implementation. Creating a solid network of regions led by one or several regional authorities is a key for launching such a partnership. The ENDR is an excellent vehicle to bring together interested partners to form partnerships in the area of dual use and defence, and Europe’s regions are strongly urged to seize this opportunity.
Explore this potential and find more information:
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/industrial-modernisation
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Assessing the capacity of EU companies to develop dual use technologies
A study to assess the innovative ability of EU companies to develop dual use technologies was recently launched by the JRC. The study will provide empirical evidence on the magnitude of innovative activities in the defence and security sector based on patent data. The study will assess the contribution of identified European players, while examining trends in dual use inventions and their flows of diffusion. These flows will be analysed by geographical and technological origin and destination across the EU as based on a selection of relevant technologies.
The results will be presented in a workshop on industry and dual use technologies, hosted by JRC-Seville in autumn 2018.
For an overview of the JRC's tools & activities in support of regional authorities, see:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/brochures-leaflets/practical-handbook-regional-authorities
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Committee of the Regions event on defence funding for SMEs, clusters and regions
Regional stakeholders met on 21 November at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels to review the funding opportunities offered by the European Defence Fund, in particular for SMEs. The Fund was launched to help EU countries by coordinating, supplementing and amplifying national investments in defence research, in the development of prototypes, and in the acquisition of defence equipment and technology.
Participants also learned about other opportunities in support of defence SMEs, clusters and regions, in particular those offered by COSME and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). Prominent examples of this under COSME are the activities of the European Strategic Cluster Partnerships, the European Network of Defence-related Regions and the Enterprise Europe Network. These networks can help guide SMEs to new funding opportunities and foster cooperation between clusters and regions.
This was complemented by the case study of the dual use project “Turtle”, which was co-funded under ESIF. The CEO of the Portuguese SME that led the project stressed how their participation contributed to the further development of her company's business.
The discussions will feed into the preparation of the Committee of the Regions' Opinion on the European Defence Fund, scheduled for adoption early 2018.
For more information check out CoR’s event page and presentations: http://cor.europa.eu/en/events/Pages/european-defence-action-plan.aspx
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Securing strategic raw materials for Europe’s defence and dual use sectors
Government and industry officials gathered at the annual Raw Materials Week during 6-10 November in Brussels. They discussed critical raw materials and how to secure their supply for Europe’s defence and aerospace sectors. The European defence sector depends on 39 strategic raw materials, of which 20 are on the EU’s list of critical raw materials such as lithium and titanium, as shown by a 2016 Commission study. Many of these are crucial for advanced parts and sub-systems for fighter jets and civil aircraft, for example.
Stronger effort is required to secure not only the upstream sourcing of such materials but the ability of Europe’s industry further down the value chain to acquire critical finished and semi-finished products as well. The Commission highlighted the next steps the EU will take to mitigate Europe’s supply and use of the materials.
For more information, read The Commission’s defence raw materials study:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/raw-materials-european-defence-industry
See the Raw Materials Week presentations here:
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/raw-materials-week-2017_en
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Video highlights dual use funding opportunities for SMEs
Structural Funds, Horizon 2020 and COSME offer many opportunities for SMEs and other innovators to bring their dual use ideas to fruition regarding high-risk funding, product development and support for market entry. A good example of how EU instruments can help is a Danish SME producing small-scale drones and software for civil and military customers.
The company gained access to EU funding, research expertise and opportunities for partnering internationally by participating in a project financed by Horizon 2020, where it was able to incorporate new Internet-of-Things applications into its products.
To learn how it did this, see the video here:
https://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/eu-helps-smes-innovate-dual-use-technologies_en
For more information about the EU’s SME funding sources and instruments for dual use innovations, see: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/content/dual-use-technology-eu-%E2%80%93-sme-success-stories-eu-funding_en
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