Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISIKey Enabling Technology Observatory (KETs Observatory)
Future key enabling technologies are expected to facilitate new products and processes and to pose disruptive qualities to markets. They can generate new growth, spur innovation, increase productivity, tackle environmental and climate challenges, and give rise to new applications, which contribute to open up entirely new markets, or at least to shift product quality in existing markets to higher levels The European Commission has identified six key enabling technologies (KETs) as priority fields to improve European industrial competitiveness: Advanced Materials, Nanotechnology, Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Industrial Biotechnology, Photonics, and Advanced Manufacturing Technology. In order better develop and implement policy frameworks regarding the deployment of KETs an adequate information basis is needed. The objective of the KETs Observatory is to provide EU, national and regional policymakers with information on the deployment of Key Enabling Technologies both within the EU 28 and in comparison to other world regions (East Asia, North America). It allows to compare the performance of countries in relation to KETs. In addition to the collection of data and improvement of the methodologies, the results will be analyzed and commented from the perspective of future policy making in the area of KETs deployment. Hence, the KETs Observatory shall also need to provide policy relevant insights and global comparisons, besides solid data and indicators.