ICT: Competition and Innovation
A key focus for both ARTEMIS and Horizon 2020 is increasing Europe’s innovative competiveness. By recognising global competition and emphasising the importance of continually innovating, it’s hoped that this goal of the framework programme can be achieved.
Speaking from an embedded systems point of view, Professor Heinrich Daembkes, president of the ARTEMIS Industry Association Steering Board, ARTEMIS secretary general, Dr Jan Lohstroh, and Mr Ad ten Berg, the ARTEMIS office director, evaluated the current global competition on offer and outlined the importance of constant innovation.
Competition
While there is little doubt that reducing the time of lab-to-market will help to bolster Europe’s competitiveness in the field of embedded systems (and, indeed, technology more generally), many emerging economies across the globe are now beginning to catch up to the stage reached by the developed world.
Professor Daembkes was asked whether he felt these economies posed a threat to Europe’s future leadership. He replied: “We are not threatened by global competition, although a series of interesting challenges no doubt lie ahead – and competition, of course, is a positive thing, as it serves to stimulate creativity and activity.
“In some regions, our competitors have quickly caught up. In Korea, for example, particularly in the field of mobile communications and smartphones, TVs and computers, and the increased prominence of companies such as Samsung, what is happening there is really very admirable.
“This is also the case in the USA, particularly with regard to Apple, and many traditional companies are now struggling to re-gain speed in order to stabilise their position in the market.”
“However,” Daembkes added, “in areas like the automotive industry, production facilities and aircraft industries, Europe is in very good shape. This is also the case in some significant sectors of software industry, and this is no longer just with regard to embedded systems, but also in large systems where software plays a significant role.
“This is certainly an area where we foresee a very good chance for the introduction of our embedded systems into advanced applications. These include, for instance, energy distribution systems, new energy generation systems, energy saving and environmental control systems and even into the control systems used in food production. Indeed, in this latter sector Europe is already ahead of many other countries.”
And the professor continued: “Regarding South America, there are very few sectors in this region that are now catching up with Europe. In Brazil, for example, the market is catching up, but at the moment they are focusing on certain specific domains – for instance the aircraft industry that they now need to master as well other new emerging technologies.
“Some of these economies are definitely serious contenders, but they are also partners, and we are working together with them to drive the field of embedded systems forward, and so, not least for this reason, we are challenged by them.”
Innovation
ARTEMIS was then asked for views on whether a greater emphasis should be placed on innovation, as well as research and development, or whether one begets the other.
Ten Berg answered: “In Europe, innovation is not as strong or as developed as either research or development, and, in Horizon 2020, we like very much the greater emphasis placed on innovation, at least in comparison to FP7.
“To gain this focus can be something of a challenge, but even the combination of known technologies into applications can be extremely innovative, and this must be supported in order to make Europe a success.”
Daembkes added: “That is a very important point, and the abbreviation ‘RDI’, rather than just ‘R&D’, will undoubtedly come to appear more and more.
“The idea of an increased emphasis on innovation is inextricably linked to the way in which Europe must begin to tackle the grand societal challenges. That is, the position of Europe on the global stage with regards to its technological prowess must be maintained if it is not to lose momentum in the face of its competitors. While this may seem to be something of an obvious point to make, there is sometimes the sense that innovation only becomes a focus when competition is fierce and there is a threat of being overtaken.”
Indeed, there is a distinct sense that this must not be the case; Europe needs to stay ahead, needs to prepare for the future and, moreover, must be aware of its competitors who are continuing to invest significant amounts of money in pushing forward the boundaries of technology.
