EDA and the European Commission explore areas where the duality of research can be identified. EDA’s roadmap for dual-use technologies consists of the following elements: identifying and supporting dual-use Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), the development of nano-technologies through the JU ECSEL and the research for dual-use technologies eligible for funding through Structural and Investment Funds.
KETs are the building blocks of advanced products and underpin traditional, high-tech European value chains. These advanced products are essential for the defence systems of today and the future. The high-level group on KETs prepares an implementation plan to improve the security of supply of KETs with dual-use applications and EDA has worked within one of the high-level working groups to promote the development of dual-use KETs components. The main areas of interest are nanotechnologies, advanced materials and nano-electronics. The high-level group advises the European Commission to establish a strategy to boost industrial production of KETs-based products and investments will also bring dividends to defence systems.
The ECSEL Joint Undertaking co-funds nationally-funded cross-border projects in the area of nano-electronics. EDA and the ECSEL JU are exploring the extent to which EDA-generated cross-border projects in the area of components could benefit from the ECSEL co-funding scheme and have to that purpose signed a Letter of Exchange on 24 July 2014.
The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) may be a source of funding for dual-use research projects. A first project in the area of maritime security research was supported by the Portuguese MoD and successfully funded in 2013. EDA’s role is to raise awareness in the MoDs about the ESIF’s potential and support the development for project ideas and project proposals.