With LeaderSHIP 2015 the European shipbuilding industry has initiated an ambitious programme to ensure its long-term prosperity in a dynamic growth market.

Shipbuilding is of strategic importance in many respects. lt develops advanced technologies that offer considerable spin-offs to other sectors; it provides essential means of transport for international trade; and it supplies modern navies with advanced vessels.

In high-tech industry sectors such as shipbuilding, success is first of all based on knowledge. Only in Europe exists such a dense network of shipyards, equipment suppliers, research centres and other providers of advanced technologies and engineering services. With regard to knowledge-based economic activities, LeaderSHIP 2015 provides a sector specific response to the EU's longer term strategy for economic, social and environmental renewal as brought forward by the Lisbon Council of March 2000. Key elements of the Lisbon strategy are increased R&D investment with a target of 3% of GDP, improved access to finance for business, lower regulatory burdens and the attraction of young people to industrial jobs in an enlarged Europe. On all of these points LeaderSHIP 2015 makes concrete recommendations.

LeaderSHIP 2015 has proven to be an efficient approach for identifying lines of action, aiming to enhance the industry's vibrancy, dynamism, and world-wide competitiveness, and with it securing sustainable growth. Through LeaderSHIP 2015 the specific conditions resulting from the unique characteristics of the shipbuilding sector are taken into consideration. Thus LeaderSHIP 2015 serves as a good example for an effective European industrial policy on sectoral level.