Research highlighted as key in strategic aerospace review
Increased spending on and coordination of research in the aerospace sector in Europe is one of the key elements recommended in the newly released report, STAR 21, the new strategic aerospace review for the 21st century, presented by the European Commission on 16 July. The report claims that security, defence and related research require the greatest effort. As well as identifying additional resources, there should be a harmonisation of military budgets and a joint planning of procurement budgets in Europe, as much of this now has a national emphasis. This increased coherence would benefit Europe, not just because it would provide a more level playing field compared with what the USA does, but also it would provide enhanced spin off benefits. There have been many examples of military research providing civilian benefits, such as GPS (global positioning systems). Improvement to the structure of European research and technology in civil aeronautics, defence and space is one of two priorities the report highlights. The other is rapid progress in developing a more coherent European market in defence equipment. An increase in defence spending in the EU would help to address this issue. The main aerospace competitor for the EU is the USA, which accounts for a half of the global market. The USA spends around three per cent of its GDP (gross domestic product) on defence, while the equivalent figure for the EU is under two per cent, with some countries spending as little as one per cent. While a closer relationship is foreseen in the report between the USA and the EU (which accounts for around a third of the global aerospace market), a change in the access to each other's markets is needed to make the EU completely competitive. As Enterprise and Information Society Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen explained, US access to the EU defence market is fairly open, but EU access to the US market is fairly limited. There are even some defence regulations which only allow US firms to supply certain products and services.' EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has recognised the importance of having a coordinated EU response to aerospace issues. 'Medium and long term industrial strategies depend to a large extent on scientific progress. The aerospace sector represents a case in point, where Europe can build a strong industrial platform based on world class technological applications, products and processes, by pooling resources at EU level to achieve a critical competitive mass.' He also pointed out that 'aeronautics and space' is one of the eight priorities in the Sixth Framework programme for research. Presenting the report alongside Mr Liikanen was Jean-Paul Béchat, Chairman and CEO of aerospace company SNECMA. He highlighted that 'space will be very important for air science and biotechnology research', but clarified that while tax incentives for research in the area would be welcome, 'industry has not requested subsidies.' The report recognises that advances in the aerospace sector will impact on a number of areas for Europeans. 'Aerospace is vital to meeting Europe's objectives for economic growth, security and quality of life,' it says. The European Commission has invited 'the widest possible response' to the report, which took 12 months to compile and drew on input from policymakers (including five Commissioners) and business leaders in the aerospace sector.