Poland and Lithuania invest in cutting edge technologies thanks to Cohesion Policy and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform

In a significant move to bolster cutting-edge technological advancements in Europe, the Commission approved today investments in Poland and Lithuania in the medical and defence sectors under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) and supported by Cohesion Policy.

In Poland’s Mazowieckie region, €25 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will be redirected to a groundbreaking project developed by the Mazowiecki Szpital Bródnowski (MSB). The project focuses on gene therapy for Parkinson’s Disease, presenting a pioneering approach to addressing this debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions globally. This innovative technology is expected to revolutionize neurological treatments for Parkinson’s Disease and further bolster the EU’s biotech industry.

Mazowiecki Szpital Bródnowski has emerged as a leading medical centre also thanks to EU funding. Thanks to Cohesion Policy support, it hosts the Interventional Neurotherapy Centre, which boasts one of only two machines worldwide capable of conducting neurosurgery in a high-magnetic field environment. Other EU investments have equipped the hospital with cutting-edge technologies, including robotic surgery systems, ECMO machines, and advanced imaging equipment.

In Lithuania, the Commission's decision will enable the Government to channel almost €50 million from Cohesion Policy's 2021-2027 funding towards the development and production of strategic defence and security technologies under the STEP conditions  This will strengthen Lithuanian enterprises operating in the defence industry that have a high potential to contribute to the EU defence and security in the current geo-political situation. This funding aligns with Lithuania’s strategic objective of increasing its national defence and security budget to 5-6 % of GDP in 2026-2030, thereby reinforcing both national and EU security frameworks.

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is at the forefront of these transformative initiatives, targeting critical sectors such as clean tech, deep tech, biotech, and advanced medical technologies that are essential for Europe's global competitiveness. To date, 11 EU Member States (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Spain) have proposed over €6.4 billion from Cohesion Policy programmes to support these vital technological innovations.