LeaderSHIP 2020 Strategy Presented (Belgium)

The new LeaderSHIP 2020 strategy to increase the competitiveness of European maritime technology was presented by Vice President of the European Commission responsible for enterprise and industry policy Antonio Tajani, together with SEA Europe, the European Ships and Maritime Equipment Association.

The new strategy is the result of a close co-operation between the industry, the trade unions, maritime regions, Member States and the European Commission.

The European ships and maritime equipment industry employs more than 500 000 people and has an average annual turnover of around €72bn but faces strong competition, and, like many other industries, the effects of an unprecedented crisis.

The LeaderSHIP 2020 strategy’s recommendations range from the wider use of EU instruments to foster new skills, competence and qualifications, to Public Private Partnerships for new maritime research, EIB funding opportunities and smart specialisation strategies in regional policy.

At the meeting in Brussels, Vice President Tajani underlined that the new strategy will give a fresh impetus to the ship and maritime building industry, in the areas of innovation, greening, application of new technologies and diversification into new emerging markets, such as offshore wind energy.

LeaderSHIP 2020 is the result of a close co-operation between the industry, the trade unions, maritime regions, Member States and the European Commission.

Evolution of LeaderSHIP strategy

The Leadership 2020 initiative builds on the LeaderSHIP 2015 strategy published in 2003 – which emphasised competitiveness, innovation and specialisation in suitable market segments.

Compared to the previous strategy, LeaderSHIP 2020 involves a broadened range of actors: all maritime technology industries and representatives of their clients such as the wind energy industry, the shipowners and the dredging industry. EU Regions were also very much involved in the process and particular attention was given to the potential of “smart specialisation”.

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Press Release, February 22, 2013