On 24 November 2015, during the second day of the "Manufuture 2015" conference, entitled "Strategic Investments in European Manufacturing to Rise to Global Challenges", which was held in Luxembourg in the framework of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), European industry stakeholders and experts continued discussions on innovation in the manufacturing sector. In his opening address, Marc Hansen, Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research, declared that innovation through research helps to boost reindustrialisation.

"Resources and infrastructures of all kinds, both physical and virtual, play a crucial role within the research and innovation landscape"

In his opening address, Marc Hansen, Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research, stated that innovation through research is "the essential brick" that allows "constant improvement and regular breakthrough" and "to identify new products, new processes". It also helps other stakeholders to scale up and bring their own products to market.

"Innovation through research helps to boost reindustrialisation by attracting manufacturing companies with a high growth potential", confirmed the Secretary of State. He insisted on the fact that "resources and infrastructures of all kinds, both physical and virtual, play a crucial role within the research and innovation landscape". In that regard, the issue is how to use existing infrastructures in a more efficient way and which new infrastructures might be needed in the future.

After presenting the many initiatives of the Luxembourg government designed to make the country "a centre for excellence in research and innovation", Marc Hansen stressed that the Luxembourg Presidency "fully" acknowledges the importance of research and innovation in the framework of the EU Innovation Union and the Europe 2020 strategy, as the main drivers of growth which make a substantial contribution to job creation.

"Support and renew European industry in a sustainable manner"

Clara de la Torre from the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation, recalled the figures concerning the importance of the manufacturing sector in Europe, referred to the previous day by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, in order to stress the importance of "supporting and renewing European industry in a sustainable way".

She highlighted the need to continue research and development activities in the manufacturing sector, focus on innovation and take account of the need to evolve in a global manufacturing environment. "The importance of continuing our efforts for SMEs persists", she reiterated. She believes that aid measures in the manufacturing sector should be long-term.

For Clara de la Torre, private investment is essential in that regard. She called on European industry to "show the way" for the development of research and innovation.

Martin Kern, Interim Director of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), highlighted the importance of synergies between the different stakeholders involved in research. He stated that the EIT helps to build such synergies.