Advanced Materials for the Green and Digital Age

Advanced materials, developed for the implementation of essential future technologies, have important properties such as robustness and heat resistance. Their applications cover a large part of the industrial value chain, such as medical goods, construction, transport, energy technologies and electronics. By contributing to material efficiency, durability and recyclability of products, they can become a game changer for the Green Deal.

"The time is ripe for a new focus on materials innovation," says André Wolf, cep economist and author of the study. Europe faces fierce global competition in this field from competitors supported by massive industrial subsidies. "The EU's innovation potential in materials with key properties for the green and digital transformation remains very high. This holds both for the breadth of applications and the diversity of companies and research institutions involved. This is a key strategic advantage.”

Wolf calls for Europe to resolutely defend its global leadership in materials innovation. To this end, a Pan-European infrastructure for information exchange should be created and cooperation between regions, industries and research disciplines should be intensified. The EU must also make better geostrategic use of its strength in materials innovation. Offers of cooperation in materials development and standardisation should become part of the negotiating package for trade agreements and strategic partnerships. "Technology alliances are another important building block for the goal of strategic autonomy," says Wolf.