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Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek

VITO

VITO, a leading European research centre with 1,300 employees, turns scientific insights into groundbreaking technological innovations, AI solutions, and policy advice.

Lobbying Activity

Response to European Innovation Act

3 Oct 2025

VITO Response to the Call for Evidence on the EU Innovation Act attached in pdf format. VITO welcomes the European Commissions plans to adopt the European Innovation Act and strongly supports its ambition to close the EU innovation gap, strengthen Europes competitiveness, and anchor innovation in both industrial and societal transformation. We see significant opportunities for Europe to accelerate the uptake of innovation through a set of focused measures. The European Innovation Act presents a unique opportunity to transform Europes innovation landscape. By combining bold accelerators, venture support, strategic infrastructures, transitional sandboxes, and a cultural shift in innovation practices, Europe can accelerate the scaling of solutions that address societal challenges, strengthen technological sovereignty, and enhance competitiveness. VITO stands ready to contribute with its expertise as a research and technology organisation, operating technology infrastructures, and as a committed partner in building Europes future innovation ecosystem.
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Response to European Research Area (ERA) Act

10 Sept 2025

VITO Response to the Call for Evidence on the ERA Act VITO Vision on the European Research Area VITO welcomes the European Commissions initiative to establish a legislative framework for the European Research Area (ERA). As a leading independent research and technology organization, we see the ERA Act as a crucial step in ensuring that Europe remains a global leader in research, innovation, and technology, while addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges. 1. The Fifth Freedom Science as a Pillar of European Integration We strongly support the Commissions ambition to enshrine the free circulation of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology as the fifth freedom of the Union. This freedom is essential to safeguard scientific independence, foster excellence, and enable extreme collaboration across Member States. Europes diversity in research capacities can be turned into a collective strength if barriers to mobility, recognition of qualifications, and access to infrastructures are removed. 2. Bridging the Valley of Death The Role of RTOs Europe must better translate research results into real-world applications. The valley of death between laboratory findings (TRL 1-4) and market deployment (TRL 9) remains a structural weakness. RTOs such as VITO are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap, operating at TRL 5-8 as well, by connecting fundamental science to industrial and societal applications. A strong ERA Act should reinforce the role of RTOs as neutral, trusted, and long-term partners capable of aligning public and private actors, accelerating the uptake of innovations, and ensuring that Europe retains its technological sovereignty. 3. Embracing Change From Technology to Society Readiness Scientific breakthroughs alone are insufficient. For Europes twin green and digital transitions to succeed, citizens and industries must adopt and trust new solutions. The ERA Act should therefore integrate not only Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) but also Society Readiness Levels (SRL), recognizing that social acceptance, behavioural change, and collaborative experimentation are vital for scaling innovation. 4. Investment and Alignment Achieving the 3% GDP target for R&D requires joint commitment and alignment of national and EU priorities. The ERA Act should provide mechanisms that incentivise coordinated investments and roadmaps across Member States, while fostering synergies with industrial policy and regional strengths. Europes comparative advantage lies in its collective talent base: when united, Europe can compete globally in strategic domains. Conclusion The ERA Act is a unique opportunity to reset Europes research and innovation ecosystem: by embedding the fifth freedom, empowering RTOs, and integrating societal readiness into research policy. VITO stands ready to contribute to this endeavour to shape innovations for a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Europe. Moreover, as an active member of EARTO, we are in full support of the more detailed EARTO Response to the EC Consultation on ERA Act, as attached:
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Meeting with Bruno Tobback (Member of the European Parliament) and Flanders Make

5 Sept 2025 · Vlaamse strategische onderzoekscentra (SOC’s) in Europa: krachtbronnen van kennis en innovatie

Response to European strategy on research and technology infrastructures

22 May 2025

VITO response to the Commission call for evidence on a European strategy on research and technology infrastructures VITO as an EU Research and Technology Organisation endorses the broad outlines of the context, identified main problems and needs as described in the current Commission call for evidence on a European strategy on research and technology infrastructures, and draws on its own expertise and experience to contribute in particular to the establishment of a European framework for Technology Infrastructures to strengthen the EU innovation landscape. For innovation to happen, we need adequate instruments to support the set-up and operation of technology platforms, pilots, demonstrators and living labs, to ensure the effective implementation of research results and boost the competitiveness and resilience of our economies and societies. Technology Infrastructures (TI) offer a way to deal with this, as covered by ERA Action 12 under the priority area Taking up together the challenges posed by the twin green and digital transition. Technology Infrastructures do not stand alone but should always be connected to societal-economic challenges based and/or industrial R&I roadmaps. Horizon Partnerships and New Industrial Strategy EU Alliances, or other public-private relevant networks represent the best vehicles to roll out such roadmaps with associated needs for technology infrastructures. Technology Infrastructures (TI) are different from Research Infrastructures (RI): RI are there primarily to advance lower TRL research, TI primarily to make high TRL research results work in our society and economy. There is a need for adequate support to and Capex & Opex funding of Technology Infrastructures, as acknowledged in COM EGTI report Towards a European policy for technology infrastructures - Building bridges to competitiveness. With regard to the funding of Technology Infrastructures, we advocate a European horizontal component for the necessary EU analyses, mapping, structuring and preparatory work of EU-wide, thematic TI networks. Investment and operational costs should mainly be borne by the Member States/regions concerned, yet ideally through a top-up EU co-funding programme to align efforts and, at the same time, facilitate the necessary networking and EU-wide access for innovating companies. On the latter EU-wide access for innovating companies, we support the envisaged Charter of Access to simplify and harmonise contractual conditions, as explained in the draft EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy - Choose Europe to start and scale, with the establishment of an EU Innovation Act and Platform to promote and facilitate the access of innovative companies to EU RIs and TIs, and guidance on the applicable State aid rules to clarify the conditions under which RTOs can grant access to their Technology Infrastructures. Finally, we attach the EARTO Response to this EC Consultation on a European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures, to highlight the key role of Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) like VITO in managing and advancing our European TIs ecosystem.
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Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

15 Mar 2025

Input for the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy VITO4STARTERS VITO4STARTERS recognizes the key challenges outlined in the document, particularly the limited access to financing for deeptech and cleantech startups. Their long development cycles and capital-intensive scaling make investors cautious. Additionally, fragmented regulations and administrative burdens hinder cross-border collaboration and market access. Startups struggle to enter public and private markets, delaying their first commercial breakthroughs. Access to talent, pilot infrastructure, and technical support remains scarce, yet these elements are essential for growth and scaling. 1. The crucial role of RTOs Research & Technology Organizations (RTOs) like VITO support deeptech and cleantech startups through: Expertise and talent: Highly skilled researchers and technological know-how help startups validate and develop innovations. Pilot and testing infrastructure: Access to high-tech facilities for prototyping and validation, often inaccessible without RTO support. Technical due diligence: Objective assessments of technological maturity provide investors and policymakers with critical insights. RTOs should be more explicitly embedded in the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy as key enablers linking startups, investors, and industry. 2. Policy recommendations 2.1. Financial instruments for RTO-driven startups VITO4STARTERS advocates for targeted co-financing for RTOs collaborating with startups. Structural support for technological validation and scaling is essential. A EU-wide RTO Startup Fund could accelerate market readiness for startups leveraging RTO expertise. Longer investment horizons, aligned with deeptech innovation cycles, are crucial. 2.2. Reducing administrative burdens and strengthening RTOs EU-wide regulatory harmonization and accelerated validation processes through RTOs would facilitate startup market entry. Smarter public procurement, with RTOs as validation partners, can secure startups first commercial deployments. Faster intellectual property (IP) protection for RTO-startup collaborations will enhance investment potential. 2.3. Better market access and public procurement Stronger collaboration between the EU, industry, and RTOs, allowing startups to integrate into consortia and industrial projects. Expansion of the EU Innovation Procurement program, with RTOs validating startups in key sectors like energy and circular economy. Targeted matchmaking between startups and large industrial players through RTO networks. 2.4. Strengthening RTO test infrastructure as a European shared resource A European map of shared test facilities, managed by RTOs, ensuring easier access for startups across member states. Stronger collaboration between RTOs and the European Innovation Council (EIC) to accelerate validation and scaling. Pre-commercial pilot programs, where RTOs assist startups in industrial validation with end-users. 2.5. Talent and knowledge policies for deeptech and cleantech More incentives for startups to collaborate with RTOs, such as residency programs within RTO labs. EU programs for deeptech talent, fostering collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs to create spin-offs. Expansion of the EIC Pathfinder program, with RTOs bridging fundamental research and market-ready startups. Conclusion VITO4STARTERS supports the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy but emphasizes that RTOs must be recognized as key drivers of deeptech and cleantech innovation. Strengthening collaboration, harmonizing regulations, and improving infrastructure access will enhance the EUs position as a global leader in technological innovation.
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Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director-General Climate Action)

13 Feb 2025 · Clean Industrial Plan / International Climate Policy

Response to Communication on the European Research Area Implementation

27 Sept 2024

VITO Vision on Technology for a Better World, as independent EU Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) in the areas of cleantech and sustainable development, very much welcomes the ERA fifth freedom for the free movement of knowledge in the single market, to foster Research & Innovation in the EU and its Member States. In doing so, we are convinced that joint priority setting should be directed towards translating R&I results into our economy and society and drive the Digital and Green/Clean Industrial Deal transitions. Europes capacity to develop, mature and market innovative products and services in critical value chains is crucial to its open strategic autonomy. For innovation to happen, we need adequate instruments to support the set-up and operation of technology platforms, pilots, demo's and living labs, to ensure the effective implementation of research results and boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies and societies. Technology Infrastructures (TI), as covered by the current ERA Action 12 (to become Action 24 in the ERA Policy agenda 2025-27), offer a way out. Technology Infrastructures are different from Research Infrastructures (RI): RI are there primarily to advance lower TRL research, TI primarily to implement high TRL research results in our society and economy. There is a need for adequate support to and Capex & Opex funding of Technology Infrastructures, based on experiences with RI in ESFRI, Open Innovation Test Beds (OITB) in H2020, and Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEF) under the Digital Europe programme. The Policy Landscape Supporting Technology Infrastructures in Europe report commissioned by COM DG R&I presents a thorough landscape analysis of strategies, policies, programmes, instruments, public and private investment plans and funding streams supporting Technology Infrastructures at regional, national and EU levels. Technology Infrastructures do not stand alone, but should always be connected to socio-economic challenges based and/or industrial R&I roadmaps. Horizon Partnerships and New Industrial Strategy EU Alliances, or other public-private relevant networks represent the best vehicles to roll out such roadmaps with associated needs for technology infrastructures. Most relevant challenges we observe are reducing dependencies on resources, mitigating and adapting to climate change making use of decarbonization & energy technologies and land-use solutions, and ensure a healthy, happy and inclusive living environment. Moreover, good synergies between the various EU R&I schemes Horizon and its high TRL satellites LIFE, Digital EU, SPACE, EDF, ETS Innovation Fund, EU4Health, ERDF/InterReg and also CEF en IPCEI - as well as national/regional R&I programmes, hold greatest potential to bring R&I to effective implementation in our economy and society. What we need is a Synergies Mapping Tool with practical guides to connect and combine the dots along the TRL trajectory in order to impactfully boost the competitiveness and prosperity of the EU and beyond.
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Response to Options for support for R&D of dual-use technologies

30 Apr 2024

The COM survey is basically about whether or not to adapt the successor Horizon R&I programme for dual use: The EC White paper offers three options for further consideration under current or future EU funding programmes as follows: - Option 1: Going further based on the current set-up, - Option 2: Remove the exclusive focus on civil applications in selected parts of the successor programme to Horizon Europe, - Option 3: Create a dedicated instrument with a specific focus on R&D with dual-use potential. Option 1 = no option because no change - Europe cannot afford that option. Given the current geo-political context and the fact that countries like Russia are acting on all fronts (economic, political, social, cyber....), the definition of dual use urgently needs to be revised. There is less and less of a strict separation between civil and military use. As a consequence, for VITO Option 3 = create a new dedicated instrument, is not an option - security/resilience should indeed be an integrated part of everything we do/make. From such perspective, VITO is in favour of Option 2 = remove current limitations. The regular objections raised by RPOs/RFOs stem from a research perspective to (understandably) preclude the shrinking of Horizon budgets for non-military purpose. But if Europe wants to be more sovereign, it should have the courage to opt for more investment in dual use. Military applications are already possible in EDF & EDA, that include pure military applications as well as dual use. It is therefore only logical that a research programme with a civilian focus should also allow dual use; these worlds should grow together.
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Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director-General Climate Action)

18 Oct 2023 · Algemene kennismaking en uitwisselen rond samenwerking en mogelijke opportuniteiten

Response to A European Health Data Space

3 Feb 2021

VITO is an independent Flemish research organization in the areas of Health, cleantech, and sustainable development. As an international research organization, VITO creates innovative technological solutions and actively shares its knowledge with businesses and government bodies across the globe. In the health data domain, we are working on personal health services, development of biomarkers, environmental aspects of health as well as on policy Instruments in collaboration with industry, healthcare organizations, civil society organizations, and citizens. We welcome the proposal of the European Commission to create a European Health Data Space (EHDS) by integrating health domain-specific and horizontal legislative frameworks to unlock the value of data, support the use, re-use, and exchange of (personal) health data, improve harmonization of data standards at the EU level, ensure data safety and address the ethical and liability-related aspects of AI to ensure high-quality healthcare and services while potentially reducing inequalities across the member states. We believe that although the IIA document is a step in the right direction to ensure that data is accessible and reusable by all stakeholders across borders and sectors, there is a tremendous amount of work to be done that is potentially beyond the power of a single organization. Hence in the light of the recent Data Governance Act document released by the EU commission, we suggest establishing competent, independent bodies (organizations) who can act as a gateway to standardize access to national data resources. The scope of these organizations' should be specific and they should be regulated by the same EU regulatory body. Moreover, they should be substantially harmonized across different focus areas in a single EU member state but also at the EU level to avoid bureaucracy and unnecessary complexity for the subjects, research organizations, and industry. So these organizations created at the Member State level, responsible for data access requests, particularly regarding the secondary use of various sources of health data. We strongly believe that dynamic consent (as proposed in the Act) for subjects to exercise specific and time-dependent control over the use of their data, as well as broad consent categories (e.g.,for non-profit health domain research), both for primary and secondary use, should be available from the start. This leads to "the founding and sustainability" of such organizations. Investment in an interoperable data infrastructure across all member states is a prerequisite to facilitate the proper cleaning storing, processing, and analysis of different health data sources. Standardized outcome measures, as well as the expansion of common data structures and quality standards, are essential in consolidating datasets and overcoming differences across the sources, while at the same time ensuring a high level of cybersecurity. In this paradigm analysis of the data for services or for credible insights is the responsibility of the data re-users such as researchers, industry, civil society, or government bodies. In the creation of these organizations, for reasons of security and trust, we strongly believe it is necessary to use a decentralized approach in which the citizen is empowered to manage its own data. Operating principles, ethical and legal guidelines regulating these organizations should be developed by the EU Commission to ensure a smooth transition to a European Health Data Space. Finally, we believe that the proposed European health data space should encompass existing (both EU level and national) initiatives and health data networks, provides necessary means to make them interoperable, and connect them to ensure the proposed system can operate at scale across all EU Member States.
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Response to European Partnership for innovative health

27 Aug 2019

VITO supports the European Commission’s proposal for a Council Regulation for a European Partnership on Innovative Health under Horizon Europe. Concerning the policy options VITO considers partnerships beyond the regular Horizon Europe calls to be important. An engaged long-term alignment of partners from different sectors will be needed to make the transition to a sustainable EU healthcare system. On the problem identification and the stated objectives we would like to add the following points. To realize the transition, we believe the whole health care continuum needs to be addressed. This includes personalized prevention. While prevention is mentioned in the current text, the focus seems to be restricted to disease management and to patients. We believe the societal and economic value of health management by empowered citizens in close contact to primary care should not be underestimated and indeed is a necessary ingredient of a future sustainable health care system. Data clearly is a crucial element. Within the current text the following points are mentioned: data exchange, standards, interconnectivity and interoperability. While these elements are necessary, we would like to point out the need for different data governance and management concepts, beyond the currently existing ways of dealing with data repositories: • In the near future health services will be more personalized, participatory, predictive and preventive: this imposes the need to for multi-level longitudinal data belonging to the same individual. The concept of repositories will need to change. • In the near future the amount of high quality health data produced by the individuals themselves will increase dramatically. This data will not be captured in the traditional repositories. • A crucial part of future health value chains consists of personalized products and services which require fast access to individual health data which in turn requires active participation of individuals. • Crucial is the concept of data ownership and clarity of access rights, avoiding lock-in situations and stimulating fair competition within legal and ethical boundaries. A data governance model will have to include a rethinking of data-ownership, a participation strategy with the individuals that donate their data. This includes an intelligent communication and consent management strategy where the individual has a central role.
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