STEP seeks to reinforce, leverage and steer EU funds – existing and new – to investments in deep and digital, clean and biotechnologies, and in people who can implement those technologies into the economy. In detail, the STEP priority areas cover:

• Deep and digital technologies, including microelectronics, high-performance computing, quantum computing, cloud computing, edge computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity, and virtual realities
• Clean technologies, including renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non-biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storage; energy efficiency; hydrogen; water purification and desalination; and advanced materials
• Biotechnologies include biomolecules and their applications, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies and crop biotechnology.

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, organised the EU Clusters Talk “STEP: Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform” on December 6, 2023, and presented the platform and related activities as well as looked at the potential beneficiaries of the planned investments in critical technologies in Europe.

Speakers included:

• Davide Lombardo, Acting Head of the STEP Task Force, DG BUDG, European Commission.
• Elvis Bajric, Business Developer, High Tech NL Robotics.
• Christiane Egger, Manager, Cleantech-Cluster Energy.
• Stamatiki Kritas, Business Development Manager, Hellenic Bio Cluster.

This event is part of regular online meetings brought to the cluster community by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform. They offer up-to-date insights into the latest industrial policies and clusters’ involvement, projects, and best practices, the latest ECCP news, and funding opportunities. The EU Clusters Talks are a space to exchange knowledge and to discuss cluster-relevant topics, which will change with every meeting.