Maria da Graça Carvalho hosted a Photonics21 lunch debate on "The importance of KETs for fuelling innovation, economic growth and cohesion in Europe". The debate took place today in the European Parliament.
The lunch debate was part of the 4th European Innovation Summit which took place on 9 and 10 October in the European Parliament (see programme here).
The focus of the debate was the importance of Key-enabling Technologies for fuelling innovation, economic growth and cohesion in Europe. The keynote presentation was made by Maria da Graça Carvalho, in the quality of Rapporteur for the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020.
During her intervention, Maria da Graça Carvalho outlined the importance of the KETs as they have "a central role to play in H2020" and considered the possible synergies that can be created between H2020 and the structural funds.
The speakers included Giorgio Anania - Vice President and Executive Board Member of Photonics21 and Member of KET-HLG; Mike Wale - Director, Active Products Research, Oclaro and Executive Board Member of Photonics21; and Khalil Rouhana - Director Components and Systems, DG CNECT, European Commission.
As the debate on the Commission's Horizon2020 framework is in full swing within the European institutions, Photonics21 focused on Enhancing synergies between Horizon 2020 and the structural funds - with smart specialization being key to it. Under current economic restraints, smart specialisation represents an innovative policy tool that brings a fresh perspective to the debate on resource allocation in European regions.
During the event was discussed the potential of photonics as a Key Enabling Technology (KET) for economic and structural cohesion and how the EU's Horizon2020 framework could help facilitating access to and utilisation of funding for European regions and SMEs especially with regards to the intersection of R&D&I and structural funding.
Representing more than 2,000 members from industry, research and politics, Photonics has been recognized as a key-enabling technology within the Horizon 2020 framework.