Potocnik welcomes strategic vision for waterborne transport in 2020
Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik has welcomed a new strategic vision for waterborne transport in 2020, published on 8 February by the European Waterborne Technology Platform. Maritime transport is a sector of strategic importance to Europe, given that 90 per cent of the EU's external trade and 40 per cent of its internal trade is transported by sea. Much of the world's shipping is owned by Europeans, and the turnover of Europe's maritime transport sector is over 137 billion euro. But speaking to industry figures in Brussels, Mr Potocnik reminded his audience that the maritime industry is a cyclical one. 'What is today's state of the art soon becomes the global industry standard. Constant research is needed to maintain an advantage through the development of new concepts, smarter production techniques, materials and methods.' Continuous investment in research is particularly important in the face of increasingly sophisticated global competition, he added. The Commissioner praised the strategic Vision for Waterborne Transport in 2020 outlined by the Technology Platform, made up of partners from industry, universities, research institutes, Member State authorities, regulators and other bodies. 'I look forward with interest to your next task of producing a strategic research agenda that will provide a realistic framework to convert this vision into reality,' Mr Potocnik added. The ideas set out in the vision document and subsequent research agenda will find their way into the themes for the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), he assured the audience, but emphasised that the industry's commitment to the strategic vision is paramount. 'After all, it is their money that will be invested, and their profits and their employment that is at stake. I am sure you will meet this challenge.' Opportunities for maritime related research and development will be found mainly under the transport, environment and food, agriculture and biotechnology priorities of FP7, said the Commissioner, and research will also be one of the cross-cutting themes in the forthcoming Green Paper for the EU's Maritime Policy. Mr Potocnik concluded by quoting from the Vision 2020 document: ''The history of civilisation and of commerce cannot be separated from that of waterborne transport'. Your investment in and commitment to research and innovation is part of ensuring that this statement also holds for the future.'