Today, 500 participants were privy to the formal launch of seven public-private partnerships (PPPs) [1]  that are set to deliver solutions to some of the biggest challenges affecting Europe in order to drive forward Europe’s competitiveness.

The launch is a high-level launch event, hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, which was opened by President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso who stated "Only if the best brains from academia, industry, SMEs, research institutes and other organisations come together can we successfully tackle the huge challenges that we are facing. This is what public-private partnerships are about, the joining of forces to make the lives of Europeans better, create jobs and boost our competitiveness. We are committed to prioritising the impact of the European budget on the recovery, and these partnerships are doing just that, with first calls for proposals for 1,1 billion euros to be matched by industry, within a package representing an overall 22 billion euros boost to growth and jobs creation over seven years. They will continue delivering results that no single country, company or even the European Union as such would achieve alone." 

This sentiment was echoed by Vice-President Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport, made particular reference to the future of the SESAR Joint Undertaking “SESAR 2020 Research and Innovation programme will provide Europe’s aviation sector with many more forward-looking ways of tackling and solving the challenges it faces. In turn, this will create new business opportunities to benefit Europe’s society and wider economy. It is why I believe that what SESAR produces and provides is not only vital for the Single European Sky (SES) to achieve its ambitious goals, but also for us to achieve the Europe 2020 growth strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy” said Vice-President Kallas, European Commissioner for Transport.

Each of the seven PPPs were represented by a company CEO involved in one of the individual partnerships. Massimo Garbini, CEO of ENAV represented the SESAR Joint Undertaking at the event and highlighted the importance of Public-Private-Partnerships “To stay a leader in aviation worldwide, Europe needs a modern and efficient Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. SESAR is unprecedented and unique in bringing together the best minds of the entire aviation sector through a public-private partnership in order to fast track performance-driven ATM technological and operational improvements. Much like the EU’s  Horizon 2020 programme, the extended SESAR programme (SESAR 2020) will ensure excellence and industrial leadership in the field of ATM Research & Innovation, and will contribute to tackling Europe’s broader economic and societal challenges.“

See more at: www.sesarju.eu or download this informative factsheet on the SESAR 2020 programme.

Download the official European Commission press release, or downlaoad the event agenda.

For more information, please contact:

Christine Stewart (+32 2 507 80 30)

[1] IMI (innovative medicines), Clean Sky (aeronautics and air transport), FCH (fuel cells and hydrogen), ECSEL (electronic components and systems), BBI (bio-based industries), SESAR (air traffic management) and SHIFT2RAIL (rail transport) invite you to a press conference to meet the CEOs of some of the multinational companies contributing to these partnerships