Commissioner Gabriel and EARTO discuss a New ERA for research and innovation
- ›On 29 April 2021 Commissioner Mariya Gabriel met virtually with members of EARTO to discuss the future of EU research and innovation policy.
- ›EARTO presented recommendations focused on a results driven European Research Area, technology infrastructures, industrial technology roadmaps and ERA Hubs.
- ›EARTO called for a concrete roadmap to reach the 3 percent EU GDP R&D investment target and stronger alignment between EU, national and regional programmes.
- ›Commissioner Gabriel welcomed EARTO's contribution and stressed the need to preserve scientific excellence while stepping up innovation.
- ›Implementation of the recommendations depends on political decisions, funding and coordination between the Commission and Member States.
Roundtable on the future of R&D policy: Commissioner Gabriel and EARTO
On 29 April 2021 Commissioner Mariya Gabriel joined a videoconference roundtable with members of EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations. The meeting focused on the future of research and development policy in the European Union in the context of the so called New European Research Area or New ERA for research and innovation. The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) recorded the event as a formal exchange between the Commission and a major representative body for applied research organisations.
Who took part and why it matters
EARTO brings together roughly 350 Research and Technology Organisations across 32 countries and represents a workforce of scientists, engineers and technicians embedded in technology transfer and industry collaboration. Antti Vasara, EARTO president and CEO of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, handed the association's recommendations to Commissioner Gabriel. The exchange came at a moment when EU policy makers were preparing to deploy Horizon Europe, to coordinate national Recovery and Resilience Facility plans, and to increase attention to industrial competitiveness after the pandemic.
What EARTO proposed
EARTO presented a short list of priority actions intended to help translate the New ERA political objectives into operational measures. The package emphasised strategic directionality toward the green and digital twin transitions, stronger technology infrastructures, and better alignment between EU, national and regional instruments. The organisation framed its recommendations as necessary to boost Europe’s sustainable competitiveness rather than only to recover economic activity.
| EARTO recommendation | Short explanation | Related ERA action number cited by EARTO |
| Set up a concrete roadmap to achieve the 3 percent EU GDP R&D investment target | Call for measurable plan and impact oriented approach to close the investment gap between EU and global competitors | ERA Actions 1 and 2 |
| Adopt an EU Strategy on Technology Infrastructures | Recognise large scale testing, pilot and demonstrator facilities as a backbone for innovation and plan their support | ERA Action 10 |
| Co-create Common Industrial Technology Roadmaps with stakeholders including RTOs | Use roadmaps to focus investments on priority technology development across sectors and scales | ERA Action 5 |
| Streamline support to industrial innovation ecosystems and develop ERA Hubs | Align existing initiatives and funds to create networked regional hubs that connect research, industry and finance | ERA Action 6 |
| Exploit synergies between EU, national and regional programmes | Make Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU, cohesion policy and national recovery plans work together to leverage RD&I investments | ERA Actions 2 and 3 |
What Commissioner Gabriel said
Commissioner Gabriel thanked EARTO for its recommendations and described the meeting as part of a broader effort to connect EU flagship programmes. She said Europe should preserve scientific excellence while strengthening innovation and called for synergies between Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU and cohesion funds. The Commissioner welcomed EARTO’s engagement and invited continued practical contributions from RTOs and other ecosystem players.
Why these proposals matter and what is uncertain
EARTO’s recommendations reflect long standing gaps in European innovation policy. Technology infrastructures such as large pilot plants, test beds and demonstration facilities are expensive to build and operate. They require shared funding models and governance arrangements that cross national borders. Roadmaps and ERA Hubs are useful coordination tools but do not on their own create finance or guarantee market demand. The call to reach 3 percent of GDP in R&D spending is ambitious. It assumes significantly higher private sector investment and continued public support. Neither is automatic.
Context for readers outside Brussels
The roundtable took place while EU institutions were preparing post pandemic recovery instruments and the new Horizon Europe research programme. The Recovery and Resilience Facility was channeling national investments and the Commission was looking for ways to increase the impact of EU spending on innovation. In that context, EARTO sought to ensure that applied research organisations are explicitly included in planning and funding mechanisms.
A pragmatic view on impact and next steps
Roundtables and position papers are normal steps in EU policymaking. EARTO’s recommendations are precise enough to inform the Commission’s technical work. Whether they translate into new budget lines, new governance structures or concrete projects depends on follow up by the Commission and Member States, and on the availability of funds. The Commission’s political buy in is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for implementation.
For RTOs and industry the key questions are about scale and timing. Will the Commission and Member States commit multiannual funding to shared technology infrastructures and to ERA Hubs. Will financial instruments be designed to attract private co investment that can raise overall RD&I spending toward the 3 percent target. These are the practical issues that industry, RTOs and regional authorities will watch closely.
EARTO recommendations in brief
| Recommendation | Core ask | Why it matters |
| 1. Roadmap to 3% GDP R&D | Set measurable steps to reach 3 percent of GDP in R&D spending | Targets discipline policy and highlight gaps in public and private funding |
| 2. EU Strategy for Technology Infrastructures | Plan and support large scale testing and demonstration facilities | Infrastructure enables scaling and de risk ing of technologies for industry |
| 3. Common Industrial Technology Roadmaps | Co create sectoral roadmaps with RTOs and stakeholders | Roadmaps align actors and focus investment where it can have systemic impact |
| 4. ERA Hubs and ecosystem alignment | Streamline support to regional innovation ecosystems and network them | Hubs can improve regional specialisation and link research to industry |
| 5. Synergies across programmes | Align Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU, cohesion and national funds | Better coordination multiplies impact of public investments in innovation |
Practical next steps to watch
Stakeholders should monitor how the Commission responds in policy documents and work programmes, how Member States include EARTO proposals in their Recovery and Resilience plans, and whether new calls or funding lines are opened for technology infrastructures or ERA Hubs. EARTO offered to continue contributing to the design of the New ERA. That offer is standard among stakeholder groups. The added value will be judged on whether recommendations lead to new governance mechanisms and funded projects rather than only to further dialogue.
This article retains the substantive points from EARTO’s contributions and the Commission’s response while adding context on likely obstacles to implementation. The proposals reflect a pragmatic orientation towards applied research and industrial competitiveness. Turning them into material investments and long term institutional changes will require political choices, sustained budgets and clear governance frameworks at EU and national level.