The first ever joint Electronic Components & Systems (ECS) Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) was published in January 2018. Each year the three European industry associations AENEAS, ARTEMIS-IA and EPoSS, spanning the entire value chain, set out their vision for digital Europe, the key application areas, the R&D&I challenges and solutions.
Today the associations release the draft version of the ECS-SRA 2019. During the stakeholder forum at EFECS 2019 in Lisbon, participant can share their feedback before drafting the final version. With the input from industry, the associations make sure that all aspects are taken into account. Download your copy here to prepare yourself for the ECS-SRA Session.
A radical, digital transformation is occurring in how we live and how we work. The innovations that lie at the heart of this transformation are founded on the rapid developments of Electronic Components and Systems (ECS)-based applications. This prompted the three industry associations – AENEAS, ARTEMIS-IA and EPoSS – that represent their members along the ECS value chain to co-author a joint ECS Strategic Research Agenda (SRA). This document sets the strategic priorities and technical pathways to enable European industry to become stronger and more competitive, and to have a significant and beneficial impact on society and the economy.
The first edition of this joint SRA was issued in 2018. To reflect the dynamics of our industry, the associations also agreed on a regular update process, by which the document will continue to evolve, with reviews every year and a major update every 3 years. This continuous process will enable all the ECS stakeholders to be constantly aware of new technologies coming up and of potential game-changers. In this 2019 update, the long-term vision has now developed into a full chapter, which surveys emerging technologies with a significant potential impact on the European ECS landscape 10 years from now and beyond. The ECS SRA aims to foster the digital transformation by supporting the development of technology solutions over the entire ECS value chain, addressing the emergence of new business models with shorter innovation cycles and new transaction mechanisms for improved trust and security. It captures the game changers that have led to a smart economy and society (smart mobility, smart health, smart energy, smart industry and smart life). The ECS SRA acts as a tool to realise the industry-driven, long-term vision of an ECS ecosystem. By focusing on strategic priorities, it aims to align and coordinate research policies in Europe as well as match the allocation of programmes and resources to different technology and policy challenges. The Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) strategy addresses the essential capabilities required to meet the application needs, dissolving barriers between application sectors to create a complete ecosystem of companies, universities and research institutes cooperating together to develop key technologies and applications.
Finally, in establishing an adequate environment to transform the research results into successful solutions, Europe will be strengthened and become a more competitive force. Implementing the ECS SRA will translate not only into economic value but also have profound societal impact, by contributing to meet the challenges of sustainable living and of the long-term European policy on zero carbon dioxide emissions. In the global competitive arena, the need of keeping or even bringing back manufacturing to Europe is undeniable. In terms of the societal needs arising from an ageing society, new approaches based on ECS will help maintain the living standards that have been reached in Europe. In the context of growing protectionism in the US and China, Europe has to retain its sovereignty and autonomy for the provision of its rapidly increasing needs for electronic components, embedded/cyber-physical systems and smart integrated systems. The three associations share the firm conviction that the companies, research institutes and universities should remain strongly engaged together in driving the research and innovation agenda with the ultimate goal of creating value, growth, jobs and prosperity.