Background Info

Technology Platforms:

What is an ETP?

As defined in EURAB 04.010-final [January 2004], a European Technology Platform [ETP] is a major, pan-European mission-oriented initiative aimed at strengthening Europe’s capacity to organize and deliver innovation – strengthening the European-wide innovation process. An ETP will bring together relevant stakeholders to identify the innovation challenge, develop the necessary research programme and implement the results.

As envisaged by the European Commission, the development of ETPs can help to ensure the European investment in R&D rapidly and effectively:

• delivers benefits to the European citizen,/li>
• creates competitiveness for European companies,
• ends the situation in which high EU R&D investment often produces fewer that expected benefits, and
• helps to give shape to the European Research Area [ERA] on a sector-by-sector basis.

In recent years, more than 25 ETPs have been initiated, covering sectors as diverse as Steel, Sustainable Chemistry, Textile and Clothing, Plants for the Future and Large Wing and Fuselage. A number have relevance to the agro-food chain and these will be clustered to ensure optimal exchange of information and best practice and minimal overlap of activities.

More information on all technology platforms can be found under: http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/home_en.html

On the website of SPAS we have listed some ETPs with a relevance to the food chain. Below you will find the specific link , a short summary and contact details.