Science|Business: Ukraine war prompts EU to ‘speed up’ work on critical technologies

As she prepares to launch a new innovation agenda, EU research commissioner tells Science|Business that Russia’s invasion is forcing the EU to take a more strategic approach to R&D in fields such as health, green energy and semiconductors

• Russia’s invasion is forcing the EU to take a more strategic approach to R&D in fields such as health, green energy and semiconductors.
• To promote the move to self-sufficiency, the European Commission is next month due to launch five major initiatives to make the EU a global innovation leader in strategic fields.The bloc has a strong science base, but it needs to attract more private investment, invest in talent, adapt regulations to the needs of innovators, and close the innovation gap between new and old member states.
• The new innovation agenda will also include a plan for pilot partnerships for regional innovation, in a bid to make Europe a powerhouse for deep tech start-ups, close the east-west innovation gap and speed up the development of technologies needed for the green transition.
• In another initiative, a clear overview of all technology infrastructures in member states. The EU has been mapping research infrastructures for a long time, allowing scientists from around Europe to choose the best labs for their experiments. A similar roadmap is needed for technology infrastructures, where companies can test and scale-up new technologies, such as road traffic safety measures or multi-material 3D printing.

The war forces us to change the pace and to think strategically, and to also have allies that share our principles and values and can link words to actions. – Mariya Gabriel, EU research commissioner.