Focus on Technology Infrastructures at EU meeting in Copenhagen

The European Commission has recently launched a new strategy to strengthen Europe’s research and technology infrastructures. For the first time, test and demonstration environments directly targeting industry are included. The integration of technology infrastructures into the EU’s strategy is particularly beneficial for Sweden, which already has many prominent facilities of this kind.

“It is very encouraging that technology infrastructures are now being brought into the EU’s strategy. Sweden already holds a strong position with a unique culture of collaboration, but technological development is moving rapidly, and keeping pace will require major investments. The EU initiative gives us an opportunity to strengthen both our strategic technology areas and our competitiveness,” said Monika Fuller, Vice President Vehicle and Automation at RISE.

Monika Fuller, Vice President Vehicle and Automation at RISE at a panel discussion.

As investments in strategic technologies increase, so does the need for environments where technology can be tested, developed, and validated. The new strategy aims to support the establishment and upgrading of technology infrastructures in areas crucial for Europe’s future competitiveness, such as AI, power electronics, semiconductors, and quantum research.

“RISE operates over a hundred different technology infrastructures that bring together industry, institutes, and academia with a focus on applied, industry-oriented research and development. This means that the strategy could have a major impact in Sweden. Much depends on the level of funding linked to the initiative. We see that both the EU’s Competitiveness Fund and the upcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation need to fully include technology infrastructures,” said Monika Fuller, Vice President Vehicle and Automation at RISE.

Thanks to the Danish EU Presidency, the Research and Technology Infrastructure Summit was held in Copenhagen, with the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) as one of the organizers. One goal of the meeting was to highlight a shared vision for a stronger and more integrated European innovation system.

“We must ensure that Europe’s new tech policy is shaped in a way that takes advantage of Sweden’s strengths and capabilities. This is not just about growth in Sweden but about building Europe’s collective capacity, and ultimately, competitiveness and growth,” said Adam Andersson, Director of European Affairs at RISE.

Press contact:
Niklas Jälevik, Head of Press, RISE, niklas.jalevik@ri.se

Background: Technology Infrastructures
Technology infrastructures are test and demonstration environments where companies can develop, test, and validate new technologies before they reach the market. The research institute RISE operates around 130 different technology infrastructures, such as AstaZero, the world’s first full-scale test environment for road safety and the development of automated transport systems. Together with the Chalmers University of Technology Foundation, RISE also operates SEEL – the Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory – a testing facility for the development of electrified transport that contributes to a sustainable and competitive battery value chain in Sweden and Europe. RISE also has world-leading facilities in areas such as power electronics and semiconductors, biorefinery, marine research, cybersecurity, AI, and data centers.