Europe’s trade in chemicals has grown from €14 billion in 1990 to €42 billion in 2002, with some 25,000 enterprises employing 1.7 million people. But to sustain this growth, it is vital the industry finds a balance between long-term technology driven and short-term market-driven research. Three strategic technology areas for European innovation have been identified: industrial (white) biotechnology, materials technology and reaction and process design.
Trois domaines technologiques d’importance stratégique pour l’innovation européenne ont été mis en évidence: la biotechnologie industrielle (biotechnologie blanche), la technologie des matériaux et la conception de réactions et procédés.