European defence research in crisis? The way towards strategic autonomy

Defence research, in the form of both research and development (R&D) and research and technology (R&T), are important factors in achieving long-term European strategic autonomy. The present paper analyses this debate from a comparative perspective. The first part discusses the inputs provided by the group of personalities report from February 2016 on defence related R&T research, and the corresponding report by the European Parliament (EP) from March 2016 on the future of EU defence research. In the second part, I compare the conclusions drawn in these two reports with defence research developments in China and Russia respectively. By comparing defence research activities in these two non-western states with the European efforts to establish a European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB) we will be in a better position to answer questions such as: is European defence research in a state of emergency? And, which means should the EU develop so as to mitigate the downward trend in European defence research? An important input to this comparative analysis is the US Defense Innovation Initiative (DII). As this paper stresses, priority given to European defence research is necessary both to cover one’s own defence needs, but also to preserve and further develop the transatlantic security community as well.