ENIAC

The ENIAC joint undertaking has set up a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on nanoelectricity within the framework of the specific Cooperation programme from the Seventh Framework Programme of research and technological development in the European Union. This public-private partnership aims to support investments in this sector, innovation sources and competition.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 72/2008 of 20 December 2007 setting up the ENIAC Joint Undertaking.

SUMMARY

Based in Brussels, the ENIAC Joint Undertaking is a Union body with legal personality. It was set up for a period extending until 31 December 2017. The founding members of the Joint Undertaking are the European Union (EU), Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the AENEAS association, which represents companies and other R&D actors operating in the field of nanoelectronics. The ENIAC Joint Undertaking is open to new members. Up to now, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Norway have joined the list of members. Four other countries also participate in projects without being members of the Joint Undertaking: Denmark, Israel, Switzerland and Turkey.

Objectives

The ENIAC Joint Undertaking contributes to the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (Seventh Framework Programme) in the field of nanoelectronics. One of its key objectives is to encourage the development of essential skills by means of a research programme and to support its activities. It is thus aimed at encouraging European competitiveness as well as the emergence of new markets and new social applications. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also encouraged to participate.

The Joint Undertaking also aims to promote cooperation and the coordination of Community and national efforts, both public and private, in order to support R&D and investment: Concentrating efforts will, in particular, make it possible to ensure that better use is made of results.

Operation

The Joint Undertaking consists of the following bodies:

• The governing board, made up of representatives of the members of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking and the chairperson of the industry and research committee. It ensures the smooth running of the organisation and supervises the implementation of its activities;
• The executive director, appointed for a three-year period by the governing board, is the main person responsible for day-to-day management and is the legal representative of the Joint Undertaking;
• The public authorities board, made up of the public authorities of the Joint Undertaking which appoints their representatives and their lead delegate. Its role includes approving the scope and the launch of calls for proposals and deciding on the selection and financing of accepted proposals;
• The industry and research committee, comprising a maximum of 25 members, is appointed by the AENEAS association. It is responsible in particular for drawing up the multiannual strategic plan and for drafting proposals concerning the Joint Undertaking's strategy.

ENIAC's resources consist of contributions from members and from the EU as well as revenue generated by ENIAC itself. Any legal entity that is not a member may make a contribution to ENIAC's resources either in cash or in kind.

ENIAC’s costs consist of:

• Operating costs, borne by its members. AENEAS also makes a contribution of up to EUR 20 million or at most 1 % of the sum of total costs for all projects. The EU's contribution may not exceed the sum of EUR 10 million. ENIAC Member States make a contribution in kind;
• R&D activities. The EU makes a contribution of up to EUR 440 million. The financial contributions of ENIAC Member States, equivalent to at least 1.8 times the contribution made by the EU, do not pass through the Joint Undertaking but are paid directly to the research and development bodies participating in the projects. Furthermore, those same bodies make contributions in kind whose value is equivalent to at least half the total cost of R&D activities.

R&D activities are implemented by means of projects launched as a result of competitive calls for proposals. These projects are financed by financial contributions from the Union and from participating Member States and by contributions in kind from the research and development bodies participating in the Joint Undertaking's projects.

The Joint Undertaking and its staff are covered by EU legislation. In particular, the Court of Justice of the European Communities is the authority responsible for ruling on any proceedings between members and on proceedings brought against the ENIAC Joint Undertaking. The Commission and the Court of Auditors carry out checks on recipients of any Joint Undertaking finance.

Background

The Lisbon Agenda for Growth and Jobs placed emphasis on investment in the fields of knowledge and innovation. Therefore the JTIs, public-private partnerships implemented by Joint Undertakings, have been initiated under the Seventh Framework Programme. These JTIs stem from the work of European Technology Platforms set up under the Sixth Framework Programme.

Five other JTIs have been set up in the following sectors: embedded computing systems (ARTEMIS), innovative medicines (IMI), aeronautics and air transport (CLEAN SKY), hydrogen and fuel cells (FUEL CELLS AND HYDROGEN), and Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES).

RELATED ACTS

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A European Strategy for Micro- and Nanoelectronic Components and Systems [ COM(2013)0298 final - Not published in the Official Journal].

This communication sets out a strategy aimed at increasing competition and capacity for growth in the micro-nanoelectronics industry in Europe.

The Commission notes that at the end of 2013, ENIAC had invested in research, development and innovation (R&D&I), merged public and private funds, more than EUR 2 billion added to the EUR billion dedicated to micro-nanoelectronics under the Seventh Framework Programme.

Amongst the measures aimed at implementing this new strategy, the Commission will propose the creation of a Joint Undertaking (JU) replacing the two existing JUs on integrated information systems (ARTEMIS) and nanoelectronics (ENIAC). This new JTI will cover three larger interdependent domains:

• Conception technologies, based on manufacture and integration, equipment and materials for micro-nanotechnological devices;
• Processes, methods, tools and platforms, concepts and architectural references for integrated/cyberphysical systems;
• Interdisciplinary approaches for intelligent systems.

Last updated: 03.03.2014