Page 6 - Annual Report 2014-2015

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Mr. José VIEIRA/ President of FEANI
In recent decades we have been witness of a formidable development of science and technology that even will accelerate in the coming future leading to an increasing potential of technology in modern society. Technological advancements are also a means for furthering knowledge in academia and can even have signi cant impacts in social and economic transformations in the future.
Due to the technological democratization of society, dramatic changes in social life have been registered transforming modern civilization on a more individual level. Personal computers, mobile communication devices, robots and cyborgs are some examples of the future of the recent past.
On the other hand global warming and its consequences are critical issues currently threatening humanity. Innovation on clean and ef cient energy, water and food security, smart
and green cities, nanomaterials, etc., are assuming increasing importance in our 21st century society.
When we address those threats and challenges we realize the overwhelming and ubiquitous involvement of engineering and engineers. FEANI as the leading, oldest and largest European Engineering Federation must be aware that the practice of engineering solving social problems through the use of machines, devices, systems, materials and processes, does not exist outside the domain of societal interests and must be committed with a permanent and audible voice for the engineering profession in Europe. That is the reason why FEANI should strive to be recognized as the authori- tative voice of European Engineering Associations, assuming the mission of promoting the mobility, the excellence in education and the professional development of engineers in order to enhance the visibility of the value of engineers to society.
In the period concerning this Annual Report FEANI had priori- tised a signi cant set of activities following the strategic guidelines assumed by the Executive Board. Some of them are related to: (i) the role of the engineer in society; (ii) special focus on young engineers; (iii) added value for membership of National Members; (iv) active cooperation with other engineering professional associations.
Fifteen years ago, in March 2000, facing the increasing globalisation and an ageing population, the European Council launched the Lisbon Strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda, whose ambition was to make the EU, by 2010, “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion". This strategy was based on the assumption that the EU was lagging behind other global regions, namely the USA and Southeast Asia, in most of the key technical and scienti c elds. Apart from the nancing of selected research and technology related programmes, most of its goals were not achieved. Moreover, in comparison to the original challenges, the issues confronting European society today are even more pressing. In particular, the continued globalisation of