Innovation Θ Technology Transfer S ro ecial Issue European Commission launches Innovation erview with Edith Cresson The Green Paper: a Summary • Catching up with the Competition • The Challenges of Innovation • Europe's Performance Today • Innovation in a Strait-Jacket • Taking Action PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION INNOVATION PROGRAMME · FEBRUARY 1996 Taking the pulse of European innovation Commission Ä launches_ Green Papers are intended to prime a debate, out of Green Paper which will emerge a plan of action. Innovation This is why the Green Paper on Innovation, adopted by the European Commission on 20 December, is so important. It analyses in detail the climate for innovation in Europe, concludes that improvement is essential, and presents a comprehensive set of proposals. The Commission is inviting Ο Ν Τ Ε Ν Τ S reactions to both the analysis and the proposals. INTERVIEW This special issue of Innovation & Technology Transfer kicks off with an interview with Edith Cresson, Member of the ComEdith Cresson, Member of the Commission mission for research, education and human resources, who responsible for research, education and introduces the Green Paper. human resources: The rest is devoted to a detailed digest.