KETs are “knowledge-intensive technologies that are associated with high R&D intensity, rapid innovation cycles, high capital expenditure, and a highly skilled workforce. They enable innovation in processes, goods and services across the economy and are of systemic importance. They are multidisciplinary and spread over many technological areas with a tendency towards convergence and integration.”
The European Union supports research and innovation activities in the following 6 KETs areas as a priority:
- Photonics and micro-/nano-electronics
- Advanced materials and nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- Advanced manufacturing technologies
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital security and connectivity
These areas are broadly defined and cover the full spectrum of specific cross-cutting technologies with application in a wide range of economic activities.
KET Photonics, micro/nano electronics
This KET covers the very broad field of photonics, microelectronics and nanoelectronics, between which there is considerable overlap. Photonics is a multidisciplinary field covering light generation, light conduction, light manipulation, and light detection. 'Light' includes not only the visible part of the spectrum, but also the microwave and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum and X-rays. Photonics includes light sources such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, conventional sources (light bulbs, discharge tubes, etc.), and many other optoelectronic elements such as light detectors (sensors) and optical modulators. In the field of light guiding, examples include light guides (waveguides), optical fibres, and optical cables.
Another group is the use of photonics in various applications. An important area of application is the conversion of solar radiation into electricity (solar cells and panels). It also includes the use of photonics in a number of industrial areas such as laser cutting and material processing, lighting technology, and lighting systems. Applications include optical devices used for various purposes, imaging technologies (displays), and technologies such as quantum technologies and electron optics (including electron microscopes).
Micro/nano-electronics deals with highly miniaturised semiconductor devices, components and electronic sub-systems, and includes the design, fabrication, assembly and testing of these elements from the micrometer to nanometer levels. All areas of electronics with nanometre-scale structure, including components with dimensions where quantum effects are applied, are considered to be nanoelectronics. This large group includes semiconductors and semiconductor devices, chips, microprocessors and their integration into larger assemblies, products and systems. It also includes measurement and instrumentation, testing of micro/nanoelectronic components and sub-systems, etc.
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Photonics: light generation, light conduction, light manipulation, light detection, visible, microwave and ultraviolet part of the spectrum, X-rays, light sources, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, conventional sources (light bulbs, tubes, etc.), optoelectronic elements, light detectors (sensors), optical modulators, light guides (waveguides), optical fibres and cables, conversion of sunlight into electricity, cutting and processing of materials with lasers, lighting technology, lighting systems, display technologies (displays), quantum technologies, electron optics
Micro-/nanoelectronics: highly miniaturised semiconductor devices, components, electronic subsystems, design, fabrication, assembly and testing of components, electronics at the nanometer level, components for quantum effects, semiconductors, semiconductor components, chips, microprocessors, integration into larger assemblies, measurement and instrumentation, testing of micro-/nanoelectronic components
KET Advanced materials and nanotechnology
Advanced materials and nanotechnology is a broad field with boundaries that are difficult to define. Advanced materials are usually defined as new or significantly improved materials that have desirable properties or specific functions. This group includes materials for extreme conditions, lightweight materials, composite materials, advanced metals, polymers, ceramics, protective coatings and resistant materials (against various influences and conditions), smart materials, etc. It also includes materials that have advantages over traditional (conventional) materials. This group includes cost-effective materials replacing traditional materials, innovative materials for use in high value-added products and services, materials reducing energy and material intensity of production, materials enabling recycling, materials reducing carbon footprint, etc.
Nanotechnologies are considered to be technologies for structures with dimensions between 1 and 100 nanometres in at least one dimension. This area includes a wide range of nanomaterials, nano-fibres and nanostructures that are applicable in various technological fields and sectors such as manufacturing, health care, energy, environment, agriculture, food production, etc. In addition to nanomaterials, this group also includes the design of these structures, systems for their characterisation (analytical equipment, nanometre-scale testing systems, etc.), and applications of nanometre-scale structures, elements and systems.
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Advanced materials: new or significantly improved materials, materials with desirable properties or specific functions, materials for extreme conditions, lightweight materials, composite materials, advanced metals, polymers, ceramics, protective coatings, durable materials (against various influences and conditions), smart materials, cost-effective materials replacing traditional materials, innovative materials, materials that reduce energy and material intensity of production, materials that enable recycling, materials that reduce carbon footprint
Nanotechnology: technologies for structures from 1 to 100 nanometres, nanomaterials, nanolayers, nanostructures, applications for manufacturing industry, health care, energy, environment, agriculture, food production, nanoscale testing systems, applications of nanoscale structures, elements and systems
KET Advanced manufacturing technologies
Innovative and knowledge-intensive technologies that can be used in the manufacturing of new products and equipment or to significantly improve product and process parameters that drive innovation can be considered advanced manufacturing technologies. They include two types of technologies – process technologies, which are mainly used to produce some of the other advanced technologies (or KETs), and technologies that are based on digital, information and communication technologies.
Process technologies include innovative manufacturing technologies, equipment, systems and processes used to produce specific materials, components and systems. Another group includes technologies for clean industry, such as technologies that reduce production waste, emissions and pollution, innovative technologies that reduce the consumption of materials and energy (especially non-renewable energy), technologies and processes aimed at making production more efficient, etc.
Technologies based on digital technologies and ICT include automated manufacturing, robotics, additive manufacturing (3D printing), integration of computers into manufacturing (including the use of high-performance computing), technologies using artificial intelligence, manufacturing technologies and processes using virtual/augmented reality, and others. Another group includes technologies used for production control, such as signal and information processing, production control, machine measurement, control and test equipment, process control, product and equipment testing, modelling and simulation, etc.
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Process technologies: manufacturing technologies, equipment, systems and processes for the production of specific materials, components and systems, technologies for clean industry, technologies to reduce production waste, emissions and pollution, innovative technologies to reduce material and energy consumption, technologies and processes to make production more efficient
ICT-based technologies: automated manufacturing, robotics, additive manufacturing (3D printing), integration of computers into manufacturing, high performance computing, artificial intelligence technologies, manufacturing technologies and processes using virtual/augmented reality, production control technologies, signal and information processing, production control, measurement, control and test equipment for machines, process control, product and equipment testing, modelling and simulation
KET Biotechnology
KET Biotechnology includes industrial (“white”) biotechnology, i.e. the application of biotechnology for the industrial processing and production of bioproducts and chemical building blocks in sectors such as the chemical industry, material production, energy, food/nutrition, healthcare, textiles and paper industries, and others, mainly in areas where “conventional” processes cannot be used effectively. These include biotechnologies applicable to industrial processing and the production of chemicals, materials and fuels (biofuels), biotechnologies using micro-organisms or enzymes, technologies to increase production efficiency using enzymes and micro-organisms, production of chemicals and building blocks using enzymes and micro-organisms, use of enzymes in food, feed and detergent production, production of biochemicals and biopolymers from agricultural and forestry waste, etc.
Another group is biotechnology in the medical and life sciences, which includes technologies in the field of biomedicine, including analytical methods and analytical techniques, bioengineering, bioelectronics, technologies in neuroscience, etc. This group also covers genomics, proteomics, genetic engineering, cell and tissue engineering, including artificial (synthetic) cells, bio-activators, biotechnologies for use in the pharmaceutical industry, neurotechnology, bioinformatics, and biomedicine (including nanomedicine). Other important groups are systems used in analytical technology, such as biosensors and biochips, lab-on-a-chip, and organ-on-a-chip.
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Industrial (“white”) biotechnology: applications for industrial processing, bioproducts production, chemical production, building block production, chemical industry, materials production, energy, food/nutrition, healthcare, textile and paper industry, efficient use of “unconventional” processes, biotechnology for chemicals production, materials and fuels (biofuels), biotechnology using micro-organisms or enzymes, technologies to increase production efficiency using enzymes and micro-organisms, use of enzymes in food production, feed production, detergent production, production of biochemicals and biopolymers from agricultural and forestry waste
Biotechnology in the medical and life sciences: biomedicine, analytical methods, analytical techniques, bioengineering, bioelectronics, neuroscience technologies, genomics, proteomics, genetic engineering, cell and tissue engineering, artificial (synthetic) cells, bio-activators, biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry, neurotechnology, bioinformatics, biomedicine (including nanomedicine), systems for analytical technology, biosensors and biochips, Lab-on-a-Chip, Organ-on-a-Chip.
KET Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science dealing with the creation of machines and systems with cognitive functions similar to those of humans, solving complex tasks such as logistics, natural language processing, decision making, processing large volumes of data, etc. This KET covers software, which includes artificial intelligence methods and tools enabling cognitive and decision-making functions, algorithms and software, machine learning, neural networks, deep learning, genetic algorithms, high performance computing, etc.
Another group is embedded artificial intelligence, i.e. elements, machines, technologies, processes and other that use artificial intelligence. This group includes for example problem-solving, decision-making and planning systems, systems using big data analytics, intelligent robots, virtual agents and distributed systems. It also includes human-machine interaction issues and devices and processes using virtual and augmented reality. Another important group is autonomous vehicles and technologies in the field of transport and transport systems that use artificial intelligence for their operation (e.g. autonomous vehicles, aircraft/drones, intelligent traffic management systems, etc.).
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Software: creation of machines and systems with human-like cognitive functions, complex problem solving, logistics, natural language processing, decision making, big data processing, software for the development of artificial intelligence methods and tools, algorithms and software for the development of cognitive and decision-making functions, machine learning, neural networks, deep learning, genetic algorithms, high performance computing
Embedded Artificial Intelligence: elements, machines, technologies, processes using artificial intelligence, problem solving, decision making and planning systems, systems using big data analytics, intelligent robots, virtual agents w distributed systems, human-machine interaction, virtual and augmented reality devices and processes, autonomous vehicles, transport and transport systems technologies
KET Digital security and connectivity
Digital security and connectivity includes the security of IT systems and IT-enabled devices, information on stored computers and repositories, including the detection and mitigation of risks associated with their use. These technologies are essential for cultural and creative content (CCC) as they can serve, among other things, to authenticate users of information systems, ensure the security of stored data and, in particular, prevent the loss and misuse of such data. In CCC, “data” are mostly copyrighted works, which in digital form are very often subject to piracy and illegal exploitation.
Technologies related to connectivity include the network infrastructure, technologies and services that enable end-users to connect to that network. Secure access to digital cultural and creative content that is created and protected by copyright is also very important for CCC. Applied research and experimental development should bring new solutions for CCC to ensure secure connections and authentication, prevent identity theft and protect data and privacy. In addition, this KET can be incorporated into various Internet services, such as e-commerce of artworks for CCC.
Examples of research and innovation topics:
Digital security: securing information systems and IT-enabled devices, securing information in stored computers and storage, detecting and mitigating risks associated with computer use, user authentication, ensuring data security, data storage security, preventing data loss, cloud security (cloud storage, cloud computing), securing cyber-physical systems, secure human-machine interfaces, human-computer and robot interaction, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
Connectivity: network infrastructure and network connectivity technologies and services, communication infrastructure security, secure connectivity and authentication, identity theft prevention, data protection and privacy, cryptography, communication and communication systems security, protection against viruses, malware, etc. Security of fixed, mobile and 5G networks, internet services, e-Government, e-Administration, e-commerce, blockchain
