16.3.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 100/93
5.3.
The EESC points out the importance of funding experimentation and testing infrastructures in order to help startups scale up their technologies and to close the gap between labs and commercial applications.
In this regard, the introduction of the new concept of ‘testing and experimentation infrastructures’ in the draft revised GBER on state aid is welcome.
In particular, the concept of testing and experimentation infrastructures (TEIs) should be distinguished from those commonly referred to as ‘technology infrastructures’ (TIs).
In this respect, the predominantly economic use may be the distinguishing factor.
In addition, notification thresholds should be equalised to EUR 21 million for both TEIs and TIs, and favourable terms provided for companies contributing to at least 5 % of TEI investment costs.
5.4.
The EESC also welcomes the initiative linked to public procurement.
In this context, the EESC suggests considering the possibility of introducing a mechanism to ensure the participation of at least one startup in innovation procurement procedures.
5.5.
The EESC underlines the importance of a sound IP regime applicable to startups’ inventions in order to promote continuous research development.
Once exclusivity is asserted for early-stage scientific results by commercial partners (which requires exclusivity to support and partner with scientific labs), there is a risk that such research results will not be further developed by scientific labs as they no longer have an economic interest.
6.
The flagship on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European innovation ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide 6.1.
The EESC urges the Commission to encourage the interregional dimension of investments.
In particular it welcomes the prioritisation of certain interregional innovation projects linked to the key EU priorities (such as sustainability), with the joint participation of less and more innovative regions.
6.2.
The EESC underlines that innovation draws on the entire research and development chain.
This ranges from curiosity-driven research to applied research and development activities, as well as the sphere of education and training, and depends on capabilities and resources for innovation uptake determined by political, cultural and socioeconomic systems.
In this connection, the EESC underlines that, in order to have structural innovation and to nurture new applied ideas, public support should also benefit higher education, including vocational education (which is key for accelerating innovation) and innovation labs, not only projects that have already reached the market phase.
A number of pilot universities can be used by the Commission to pursue this goal.
6.3.
The EESC also welcomes the Commission’s support for Member States in taking forward significant cross-border projects of common European interest, stressing the importance of also sustaining the research phase because innovation is a local process that should be supported from scratch under a bottom-up scenario, in line with the ‘Future for Europe’ final report (proposals 12 and 35).
Accordingly, both research work and the professional development of researchers should be funded.
Research results, which are publicly supported, should be open to further development by innovators, possibly through Innospace.
6.4.
The EESC welcomes the issuance of a guidance document in order to assist interested authorities in opting for the most appropriate EU policy programme.
The EESC also emphasises the importance of not designing policy programmes as ‘closed silos’, but rather of taking into account their complementarity and, where possible, applying them in a horizontal way.
7.
The flagship on fostering, attracting and retaining deep tech talents 7.1.
The EESC welcomes this initiative aimed at increasing opportunities and matching talents across Europe.
7.2.
The EESC particularly welcomes the idea of exploring the possibility of more favourable tax treatment of stock options in the EU.
7.3.
The EESC urges the Commission to consider the fiscal situation of talented individuals moving across borders in order to ensure that this does not restrict free movement of talent.
7.4.
The EESC invites the Commission to coordinate the national initiatives aimed at nurturing talents.