Support to Aviation Sector: ESIF and Horizon 2020 Are Different but Complementary

Financing of research, development and innovation in the new EU programming period after 2020 will certainly be affected by Brexit and other new challenges. Better synergies of EU programmes have to be created, with EU funding allocated at national level. Those are some of the main thoughts expressed by the representatives of EU institutions, Council and businesses during a seminar on financing of R&D&I in the aviation sector post 2020 in Brussels on September 27th 2017.

The Aviation industry has a long tradition in the Czech Republic and, in the last couple of years, has been growing steadily. Innovative Czech companies must gradually shift their focus from European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) financing towards other programmes and financial instruments, as the financial envelope for ESIF will decrease in the post 2020 period. The aviation sector is a great example in this respect. So far, Czech companies have achieved solid success in the Clean Sky 2 programme, which supports research, development and innovation in green aviation. The Czech Ministry of Trade and Industry was progressive when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clean Sky 2 last year. The aim is to create synergies in financing from ESIF and Horizon 2020, i.e. Clean Sky 2. The Ministry is preparing a special call under OP EIC Aplikace programme which will bridge the gap between ESIF and other EU funds.

“The synergy we are creating will also stimulate formation of consortiums which will facilitate better interaction of various actors within the research and innovation environment”, says Tomáš Novotný, Deputy Minister for EU Funds, Research, Development, Innovation and Investment Incentives, Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. The event was organised by CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU, Clean Sky 2 and Czech Permanent Representation to the EU.