New Report Shows Europe Needs More Strategic High-Tech Investment

Europe remains a main knowledge production centre of the world, but lags behind North America and Asia in fast-growing technologies of the future. This is a key conclusion of the latest Innovation Union Competitiveness Report. While Europe continues to lead science and technology for aeronautics, automobiles, clean transport, waste management and renewable energy, the report shows that it risks falling behind in other emerging global growth markets such as health and biotechnology.

European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: "This report rightly highlights Europe's leadership in many key industries, but again pinpoints growing gaps in some key sectors for the future. We cannot afford to fall behind. This is why our next research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, will support industrial leadership in key technologies as well as fundamental and challenge-based research."

Main findings of the report...

• Science and technology development in Asia and in the United States is often more strategic than in the EU. It is more focused on transformative technologies oriented toward emerging global markets. The EU's technology assets are more focused on established and traditional industries.
• Research excellence is the highest in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Israel.
• The strongest innovation output is found in Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom and France.

To view or download copies of the report, please click here: http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/competitiveness_report_2013.pdf