As stated in the EC definition, KETs are knowledge and R&D intensive, need a highly-skilled workforce, and require high capital expenditures. They initiate and enable innovative products, goods, and services and can assist the valorisation of research in other domains. Last, KETs are systemic to the industry base, the economy, and society and can be seen as industrial technologies. The KETs concept originated during discussions within the information and communication technology (ICT) community and semiconductor industry. The initial observation was that, although the ICT industry was seen as one of the most important backbones of our modern economy, the European ICT industry was facing problems. A policy to strengthen the European ICT industry was needed in order to strengthen the industry base. But this proved to be relevant to other industries as well, and a non-sectoral approach using technologies as enablers crystallised. The following five KETs were regarded as strategically the most relevant:
-NT (nanotechnology);
-MNE (micro- and nanoelectronics, including semiconductors);
-PHOT (photonics);
-AM (advanced materials);
-IB (biotechnology)
A sixth, more overarching, KET was added to include the manufacturing side of the industry: AMT (advanced manufacturing technologies)
