Technology Platforms bring together all relevant stakeholders to develop a long term European vision for the development and deployment of key areas of science and technology, addressing major societal, economic and environmental challenges. Their objective is to create a strategic research agenda and action plans to convert the vision into real actions. They co-operate closely with National and European policy makers on the implementation of these plans, such as recommendations for FP7 and the mobilisation of critical public and private resources through public private partnerships.

Technology Platforms are cited in several recent EU papers, mainly in the European Council Conclusions of March 2003, who specifically recommended the establishment of technology platforms on “hydrogen fuels” and “plant genomics”, and the European Commission communication “Investing in research: an action plan for Europe”, April 2003. Additional technology Platforms are currently being initiated in various areas, among them photovoltaics, steel and nanotechnology.

The Technology Platform on Plant Genomics and Biotechnology is still at a very early stage - a group led by EPSO and EuropaBio, together with representatives from consumer, farmer, food and other associations have set up a small group to draft a vision for European Plant Genomics. In a few months this draft will be handed over to a "group of personalities" which will revise and finally adopt it. A "formal" technology platform, consisting of different working groups focusing on the various aspects of plant genomics (science; industry; regulation, consumers, etc.) as well as a "member states mirror group" of policy makers is planned to be established by summer 2004. This will have the task of elaborating a detailed road map and strategic research agenda for the deployment of plant genomics in Europe. At this stage, we will certainly involve all relevant experts and stakeholders in the different member and associated states.

Details:

The TP should have a long-term impact on European and National Research Policy.

The Brussels European Council of March 2003 recommended the setting up of a European Technology Platform on Plant Genomics. Following the 1st meeting from the EC “Towards a Technology Platform on Plant Genomics & Biotechnology (PGBTP)”, Brussels 15^th Jul'03, the Commission has asked EPSO and EuropaBio to take further initiative.

The first and crucial step in this venture is to organise a Brainstorm meeting to articulate the Vision "Plant Genomics and Biotechnology - Europe 2025". Top experts from academia, industry and consumers participated in this:
 

Academia:        Michel Caboche (INRA, FR), Dick Flavell (Ceres, US, by phone), Chris Lamb (John Innes Centre, UK), Karin Metzlaff (EPSO), Lothar Willmitzer (Max Planck Institute, DE), Marc Zabeau (VIB, BE)

Industry:           Simon Barber (EuropaBio), Simon Bright (Syngenta, UK), Bernard Convent (Bayer, BE), Hans Kast (BASF, DE), Markwart Kunz (Südzucker, DE), Vincent Pétiard (Nestle, FR/ CIAA), Christophe Roturier (ARVALIS, FR), Ralf-Michael Schmidt (BASF)

Consumer:        Jim Murray (BEUC)

European Commission:  Etienne Magnien, Indridi Benediktsson

The 2^nd meeting to discuss draft 1 of the Vision will be 01.03.2004.

As a second step in the TP, EPSO and EuropaBio will establish a stakeholder forum by adding to their expertise several industries (European Seed Association, ESA; Confederation of Food and Drink Associations in Europe, CIAA; European Farmers and Farmer Cooperatives, COPA/COGECA), public authorities and regulatory bodies, the financial community (EIB, EIF, venture capital, banks), users and consumers (BEUC, AEC).
 

EPSO and EuropaBio have submitted an application for a Specific Support Action (SSA) to FP6 in November 2003 to
 

-          Support the set up of such a stakeholder forum

-          Develop from the Vision 2025 a strategic research agenda for Europe until 2025, outlining for national and European bodies how to reach the vision.

-          Discuss this agenda with policy makers in Member States & at EU level & implementation is initiated.

-          Agree on action plans to reach the milestones of the strategic research agenda. The Action Plan will be monitored & revised as appropriate.

The proposal for a Specific Support Action is currently under evaluation.

Further information:

Technology platforms have been identified as important elements for increasing competitiveness in the EC Communications “Industrial policy in an enlarged Europe” (Dec’02) and “3% Action Plan” (Apr’03).

Related Long Term Visions were published via Technology Platforms in Europe, such as the “EU Hydrogen Technology Platform Vision” (Jun’03) and the “Vision for a European Aeronautics Technology Platform” (Jan’01); and via the DoE in the US: “US Vision Renewable resources 2020” (Jan’98).