Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
Dear
Dear ASD Board Members,
Thank you for inviting me to your Board meeting. It is a real pleasure
to be here with you this morning.
As you know, from the Digital portfolio I am now “
landing” at the
Research, Innovation, Culture, Education and Youth portfolio within
the Commission. It is a fascinating and challenging endeavour. I am
ready to devote all my energy to creating tangible benefits for
European citizens and businesses.
We are very proud of the European Aeronautics, Space and
Defence industries. You have thrived and innovated to become
global players in a hugely competitive sector. Research and
innovation have been crucial factors in achieving this current
prominence.
In this new phase, I would like to continue counting on your support
in order to achieve our policy ambitions.
Aeronautics, Space and Defence are at the crossroads in the
priorities of this Commission, with sustainability and security at their
heart.
[Green Deal & Aviation]
President Ursula von der Leyen is proposing a “European Green
Deal” which will be the key headline ambition of this Commission. It
will cover a wide range of policies, among which clean aviation.
Our ambition is very high: to become the world’s first climate-neutral
continent by 2050.
By 2030 we plan to reduce overall emissions by at least 50%, or
even 55%.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
But, let me assure you, the plan will be based on social, economic
and environmental impact assessments that provide a level playing
field and stimulate innovation, competitiveness and jobs.
We have huge challenges ahead of us for climate-neutral aviation.
Research and innovation are again vital towards achieving this
objective.
The aviation industry must fully contribute to the achievement of the
Paris Agreement objectives, and in reaching the goal of climate
neutrality by 2050.
We need a series of impactful measures: including enhanced aircraft
and airspace efficiency, increased use of sustainable aviation fuels
and market-based measures.
Public pressure on the sector to neutralise climate impact will
continue to rise fast.
Failing to deliver the new technologies and improved aircraft in time
on the market, will have a negative effect on the aviation industry
and European competitiveness in the sector.
For aviation, we should regard this climate challenge more as an
opportunity than a threat. Decarbonising air transport is an
exceptional opportunity for European industries to lead this transition
globally. ASD has a key role to play here.
All in all, at least 35% of the Horizon Europe budget will be
mainstreamed for climate-related activities, including potential public
private partnerships and collaborative research.
[Research & Innovation incl. Partnerships]
Europe maintains a leadership role in global innovation. At the same
time, many competitors are investing faster than us, and they are
thinking big.
Nobody can rest on their laurels. We need to bolster both public and
private spending if we are to stay ahead of the game.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
I ask industry for committing to Horizon Europe and its potential
public private partnerships. I ask for bold steps and investing and
working with us.
You all know what it takes to invest together in partnerships like
these, even with some of your biggest competitors. You have
realised that, in this tough global environment, it is sometimes better
to work together with a competitor than not to work at all.
By working together, we will be able to deliver more research and
innovation and produce better results - we will have the joint
capacity to focus on priorities, notably the Green Deal and
digitalisation initiatives, that will underpin growth and jobs in key
sectors of the economy;
And we will certainly be able to multiply the investment effect.
With the existing partnerships in Horizon 2020, we are making some
progress, but, of course, we cannot settle for what we have
achieved so far; we cannot stand still.
We need to make much more progress in terms of real and relevant
impact in the market and on citizen’s lives.
This is why we need to make these partnerships even better, more
impactful, flexible, cross-cutting and open to engage other key
actors.
This will ensure that these partnerships remain inclusive, open to
anyone in Europe on the basis of open competitive calls, to ensure
we make the most of our collective brain power.
This will allow these partnerships to build on cross-cutting
approaches, from climate, energy and digital solutions to land, naval
transport, aviation and space.
This should also aim not only at developing solutions but also at
deploying them, aligning and leveraging all the investment
programmes available.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
For instance, greener aviation development means not only new
aircraft but also the ground infrastructure to enable new fuels and
electrification at airports. For this, the Connecting Europe Facility
programme can be instrumental.
Aerospace and defence were the driver of many new technologies
and solutions, then applied to other sectors. Examples are light
composite structures or computer-aided design solutions such as
Dassault’s CATIA.
Today aerospace and defence can benefit by adopting greener and
digital solutions spearheaded in other sectors, while adapting them
to ensure efficiency, safety and security. Examples are hybrid-
electric propulsion, quantum computing, cybersecurity and artificial
intelligence.
Horizon Europe offers a broad spectrum of technologies and
instruments to cross-fertilise innovation. This includes collaborative
research, the European Innovation Council (especially suited for
SMEs) and, of course, potential public-private partnerships.
[Partnerships preparation]
The preparation of new institutionalised partnerships is a political
process that is led and coordinated by the respective Commission
services.
As a result, it is the responsibility of the Commission to bring
together and negotiate with current and potential future private and
public partners;
The financial contribution from industrial partners is an issue to be
discussed with the Commission, not with existing Joint
Undertakings. The latter must focus above all on implementing its
last years under Horizon 2020 and on showing the real impact of
their activities so far.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
Evidently, support and mobilisation from your side in favour of a
sufficiently large budget - especially from finance ministers and
heads of government - is very welcome. It will be crucial as we
negotiate the next EU multiannual financial framework of the EU and
on the budget envelopes for programmes such as Horizon Europe.
This is particularly relevant for the Pillar II of Horizon Europe (Global
Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness). This is the pillar
addressing sectors such as aviation, naval, land transport, energy,
digital, industrial technologies and space.
As you know, EU Member States propose that the majority of the
budget in Pillar II of Horizon Europe shall be allocated to actions
outside of European partnerships.
This budgetary capping on Horizon Europe-supported Partnerships
has several consequences.
Firstly, we need to secure the overall budget envelope for Horizon
Europe, in order to secure the envelope for Partnerships.
Secondly, to focus the Partnerships where impact is higher and in
line with EU political priorities - including on sustainability.
Thirdly, to exploit synergies between partnerships, both in terms of
complementary content and common services.
Fourthly, to be proactive also in other parts of Horizon Europe, such
as collaborative research, and also in other EU investment
programmes to exploit synergies.
This includes an open, flexible and collaborative approach to
integrate promising SMEs and start-ups at due time into the
partnerships.
Some of these new disruptive companies may be incubated through
the European Innovation Council and the wider ecosystem that the
EU is putting in place - to give Europe's many entrepreneurs every
opportunity to become leading companies.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
[Synergies to seek - examples]
We all need to break our traditional silo approach and seek
synergies and new applications. We should ask ourselves “what can
we do with other programmes, with other actors, to tackle emerging
needs?”
Let me illustrate one example of potential synergies we are
exploring to boost, serving both citizens’ security and Green Deal
with aerospace, research and innovation.
More and more EU citizens suffer directly from forests wildfires. Not
only in southern Europe. In 2018 fires killed hundreds and ravaged
forests from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece … up to United
Kingdom and Sweden – not to mention the massive disasters in
other parts of the world.
This is an increasing security concern. This is also consequence of
climate change. And not only consequence, also double contributor
to climate change. Massive are the direct emissions from these fires
to the atmosphere. And massive are the tons of CO2 no longer
captured by the forests burnt.
Some experts say wildfires can account for up to 20% of total global
greenhouse gas emissions – well above the emissions from
commercial aviation, about which we are talking so much.
However surprising may it seem, the aerial means used to
extinguish fires are very old. For instance, when the night comes,
firefighting planes stop operating due to pilot safety. And the
wildfires go on.
Better aerial means can make a difference. More capable firefighting
planes, helicopters and drones. To prevent, detect and extinguish
wildfires in all conditions. To ensure safer operations and even
evacuation.
Climate change is an enemy to combat with all means. This is also a
fight worth fighting. Cutting-edge solutions from aerospace and
defence can be brought to bear.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
Citizens will then acquire a better appreciation of the industry.
This is just one of the many synergies we can exploit together, with
support from EU programmes including research and innovation.
[Skills]
Given my previous and current portfolio as Commissioner, you can
count on me to merge digital and physical innovations, and to bridge
education, skills and innovation, also in your sectors.
I am well aware of the skills challenge - to create and retain talent.
To encourage more students into science, technology, engineering
and maths.
To update the content of the university studies and vocational
training with the new industry needs, for instance in terms of
digitalisation and electrification.
To inspire students and give them the chance for a career in your
sectors, wherever in Europe, whatever their gender and whatever
their background.
[Closing]
The recent European elections showed that European citizens
expect us to do more to meet their needs.
Europe must take the lead in the transition towards a clean planet.
Europe must remain a responsible global leader with all means to
act in defence of its citizens.
That means European institutions and Member States mobilising all
their efforts and means to support growth and innovation,
particularly through public private partnerships, and by getting our
people together.
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Aerospace and Defence Industries – Board meeting
Stanhope Hotel, Brussels, 11 Dec 2019, 11:30
We can only achieve our ambitious goals with a strong economy.
That is why we will invest huge sums in cutting-edge research and
innovation with those willing to make a real impact for Europe.
The challenges for the aeronautics, space and defence sector in the
coming years will be massive. You can count on my support for
making innovation and investment in aerospace and defence a
political priority.
My services and myself remain at your disposal to discuss and
deliver together tangible results for Europe.
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