EU: "It is essential to promote R&I to strengthen our competitiveness" (European Council)

"To strengthen Europe's competitiveness, we will consolidate our own capabilities in sensitive sectors and key technologies of the future, such as defence, space, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, etc. To this end, it is essential to promote innovation and research, as well as to take advantage of tools such as public procurement. To this end, it is essential to promote innovation and research, and to make the most of tools such as public procurement", can one read in the conclusions of the European Council of 27/06/2024.

The Heads of State and Government of the 27 Member States of the European Union are meeting to define the main thrust of EU policy for the first time since the European elections. These include Ukraine, the Middle East, the next institutional cycle and a roadmap for future work on internal reforms.

Competitiveness, security and defence are also at the centre of these discussions, and research and innovation are seen as ways of making progress in those areas.

"We will boost Europe's research and innovation capacity in emerging and generic technologies…