The Scientific Advice Mechanism will shortly deliver its advice on advanced materials to the European Commission.

On Wednesday, 22 April, the Scientific Advice Mechanism will formally hand over its latest scientific advice to Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation. The topic: Advanced Materials.




Advanced materials include superconducting materials used in computers, biomaterials designed for drug delivery within the human body, and materials that store or distribute energy far more efficiently than current technologies. They underpin progress across construction, mobility, electronics, energy, and health. However, even though Europe has a strong foundation in science and regulatory practices, structural challenges hinder the passage from materials discovery to safe, sustainable, and competitive use.

This handover marks the release of two complementary documents: an Evidence Review Report produced by SAPEA, a consortium of academy networks, and a Scientific Opinion from the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, which translates that evidence into concrete policy recommendations for the European Commission, in support of the forthcoming Advanced Materials Act.

You can watch the live handover event on 22 April at 11:30 CET through the European Broadcasting Service.

The full SAPEA report and the policy recommendations of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors will be published and available to read online at the same time on that page.

About The Scientific Advice Mechanism#

The Scientific Advice Mechanism provides independent scientific evidence and policy recommendations to the College of European Commissioners on any subject, including on policy issues that the European Parliament and the Council consider to be of major importance.

The Scientific Advice Mechanism consists of three parts:

• the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, seven eminent scientists whose role is to make policy recommendations
• SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies), which brings together Europe’s academies and Academy Networks to review and synthesise evidence
• the SAM secretariat, a unit within the European Commission whose role is to support the Advisors and liaise between the Scientific Advice Mechanism and the European Commission

In some activities, such as communicating about the work of the Scientific Advice Mechanism, the three parts collaborate closely.

But when The Scientific Advice Mechanism gives scientific advice, SAPEA and the Advisors work independently, following specific procedures to maintain the independence and quality of our advice.

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