With the help of European funds, the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Tourism will be able to invest more in strategic technologies in the future. The European Union (EU) Commission has approved plans to this effect. This was announced by Economics Minister Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut.
“The positive response from Brussels enables us to invest even more specifically in the development and transfer of strategic technologies. This will benefit the competitiveness of Baden-Württemberg, but also that of the European Union as a whole,” said Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, expressing her satisfaction. The investments enable companies in a strong industrial location such as Baden-Württemberg to continue to earn money in key sectors in the future and stay ahead of the competition.
The investment was initiated by the establishment of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) which was set up by the EU at the beginning of March 2024. STEP aims to support critical and emerging strategic technologies and their respective value chains in relevant sectors in order to strengthen the EU's competitiveness, security and sovereignty and reduce dependencies in strategic technology areas. These include digital technologies and technology-intensive innovations (deep tech), environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnologies. EU member states have the opportunity to use European cohesion policy funds for this purpose. Baden-Württemberg had therefore applied to be able to reallocate funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to STEP.
Focus on hydrogen, biointelligence, semiconductor and quantum technology
Within this framework, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is initially planning to promote Baden-Württemberg's participation in a cross-state pilot line in the field of semiconductor technologies and the expansion of test infrastructures in the field of electrolysis/hydrogen, explained the Minister. In addition, the promotion of micro-production and verification of compact quantum systems as well as the establishment of a new S-TEC center for bio-intelligent value creation will be supported. The planned second call for existing prototype funding will also be consistently aligned with STEP technologies. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has earmarked an initial investment of over 35 million euros for the implementation of STEP, the Minister continued.
Hoffmeister-Kraut: “We have courageously seized the opportunities offered by STEP. Our investments support highly innovative developments in these strategically critical technology sectors as well as a rapid transfer to our companies. This will once again demonstrate our role as a leading innovation region in Europe.”
Regional structural funding through ERDF
To provide regional structural funding, Baden-Württemberg will receive around 279 million euros from the European Union from the ERDF in the 2021 to 2027 funding period. The ERDF program Baden-Württemberg 2021 to 2027 is in line with the Baden-Württemberg innovation strategy and supports the focus areas of future technologies and skills as well as resource and climate protection.
Source:
Press release State Ministry Baden-Württemberg