The first meeting of the Technology Council for Advanced Materials was held on Friday, 15 November, in Brussels.

Dr. Anna Sandak, InnoRenew CoE Deputy director and head of research department for materials, was among the participants who supported the meeting as a significant milestone in the joint efforts of the EU, Member States, industry and academia to have a clear strategic view on the needs for advanced materials in Europe today and tomorrow. Its mission is to ensure leadership in research and fast-track innovations to the Single Market, as well as boosting industrial uptake and deployment of advanced materials, aligning with the EU’s strategic goals such as the Green Deal and industrial competitiveness.

The Technology Council has been announced in the Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership and established by the relevant Commission Decision.  Its first meeting was co-chaired by Maria Cristina Russo, Director at DG RTD, Amaryllis Verhoeven, Acting Director at DG GROW and László Lengyel, Vice President for Science and International Affairs at the Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office, representing the Hungarian Presidency of the Council. Director General Marc Lemaitre gave the welcome speech with the co-chairs. The Technology Council brings together high-level representatives from various Member States, European academia, industry, and associations to drive a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem for advanced materials in Europe.

The inaugural meeting was attended by 52 high-level representatives, including 27 from Member States and 19 from academia, research and technology organisations, industry, and associations (which have been selected from a call for application). Representatives from Associated Countries to Horizon Europe attended as observers.

The members of the Technology Council emphasised their commitment to closely cooperating to achieve the objectives of the Advanced Materials’ Communication.

The Technology Council will meet once or twice a year, with continuous follow-up. Outcomes of the Technology Council meetings will be published in the dedicated website early next year.