Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) are public-private partnerships at European level used to support trans-national cooperation in industrial research. The European Commission has identified JTIs as a new strategy of implementing the Seventh Framework Programme according to the goals of the Lisbon Strategy. JTIs arise primarily from the work of European Technology Platforms that require the mobilisation of high public and private investments as well as substantial research resources to implement important elements of their Strategic Research Agendas. The European Commission identifies JTIs as critical to making a step change in promoting industry-driven research and development in Europe and to establish European leadership in future strategic technologies.
Six fields have been identified in the 'Cooperation' Specific Programme of the Seventh Framework Programme, where the setting up of a JTI could be of particular relevance:
I would like then to raise the following questions:
1- How are the different JTIs progressing? What have been the main successes and the main barriers to development?
2- It is argued that JTIs are led by the industry and too closed to participation of universities and SMEs. Is there an active involvement of e.g. SMEs or Universities in JTIs?
What are the plans of the Commission to make sure that universities and SMEs have equal opportunities for participation in the JTIs?