CORDIS focus

European Commission Directorate-General For Enterprise And Industry

Description

Issue number 217, 24 March 2003
Scientific and technical research
Target audience: Specialised/Technical

Sujets

• Periodical publication
• RE/Search
• Research and development
• Sciences et techniques

Informations

• Publié par: EUROPEAN-COMMISSION-DIRECTORATE-GENERAL-FOR-ENTERPRISE-AND-INDUSTRY
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

Extrait

ISSN 1022-6559

B a s e d o n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m C O R D I S N e w s a v a i l a b l e o n t h e Whet tbpa: /t/ w w w . c o r d i s . l u / n e w s

IN THIS ISSUE ncallsforacommonenakiiL Innovation communication calls tivapooncylirfmawerofkronion vation f T o h r e r   e E v u i r s o e p d e i a n n n   o Commis p si o o li n c   y has EU Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, Erkki Liikanen, has called on Mem adopted a communication on and the Commission to work together to create a common European framework for innovStates i n n e n e o d v  t a o ti  f o o n c  p u o s  li o c n y     e e n m tr p e h p a r s e i n si e n u g r   i th l e policy. a innovation and for innovation policy rmfohe t eirnocoydaeohs t i     n d w n e c r i   - o a have alr a sleHot setat n pu     i w e a s r m d i  d geuro  SermbMe to be integrated into other policy tors and set targets for national innovation perp-reparation for EU membership gives him confi- areas page 2  in their ability to boost dence formance and communica Should Europe be reaching for the  levels. innovation the results, as called for in t stars or bringing space back down Commission’s newly pub to Earth? ja Bucar isld h M e ae m h m C o   c n c e in t - u   oi ,r t f a m n o o t     n i I fo eroitanretlaRel nasonti What is today’s driving force behind research in the field of space? Is it s n ti o ll nUviht eyto reisubljf Ljana, n vation polci.y t a the inspiring images of humans in space, or is it the more practical acdndita eocnu- t dep eh rooonnitiva re ve rdcof  o blam hT eoCmmsiisas weron esdr  a s a gnisdlohekatoer c applications of space research here on Earth? Both explanations were  on a number of factors. tries ference in Brussels on supported at a conference to launc M h arch, organised to prese  low levels of Traditionally the consultation process on the  on research and spendingthe communication, initiat Commission’s Green Paper on space policy on 6 March page 7  a lack of in-a dialogue with national a development, regional representatives Maria João RodriguesP,aul Reynolds, Erkki Liikanen vestment capital and financ- Sceptical public leads biotech the issues raised in the docu a © -  Heind eN Ssw  Znzreou  C k DIOR ing structures, and a failure companies to turn their backs on EU  implement well-meaning ment, and offer some expert  to The Commission has warned that th p e all served to stifle innovation, she said had  policies erspectives on innovation in Europe. ‘unjustified fears and prejudice’ of gnel ,seB sMracuo n v o o c       t t x e e r t rd oInl r a o h   c p   c h e c d u u s i   n e d m   o h c e r   e tmouminacitnow saThe c citizens concerning agricultural and food applications of biotechnology i o s  the need for the promotion of an in-f the EU’s objective of becoming the world’s moshtighlighted causing biotech companies to byy omonece ivittepmoc miticte fosc mo.yA  - l alt  a l   l o e l d s   v L e i l s e e n h o s i   t - a o vo a n c2 e   r 1 u 0 t , l 0 u t c     leave the EU page 8 bon strategy. Mr Liikanen warned delegates thamt ent to lifelong learning, better co-operation be- Commission calls for more statistical indicators of Europe’s current innovatiotnween industry and research institutions, and the research on defence l dla pre o s w   l o u b n j e e   c t t r i e v m e n   g i   s von ofntioerve inte r v m i f t o c c a e o a r n p ho sthw a taeihcgniviht  The European Commission has by no means guaranteed, and said that: ‘To rea cnotu ertbihe cto tion reat hcus forutluc a in h d ae,n adopted a communication on the requirements of the European defen th c e e  boost competitiveness, she said. Lisbon goals means stepping up a gear.’  turn equipment industry in its quest to  i support the European security and  mportanceThe Commissioner reiterated the  ofProfessor Paul Reynolds presented some of the defence policy (ESDP) page t t 1 oi h 5 e measur ey fke t h e g f   o S t t   a g m n b   e s rf n   ii M d e nereeptrenl balo ,rot -inom pihsru l m d m ’ n s u   c m i o - s a    n t h he t     w e o o r c e m h e s n n d v e i d     e i   e t s o   c r p e m c e o r m itano no s - e o r c e   c i h d a r r obee erttnth:  Commission seeks women FP6 and EU innovation policies, and the promotion ofproject on entrepreneurship, which he devised and evaluators innovation through related areas of policy such as manages. The results of the monitor show that th The Commission is seeking women  lowest employment and education.  levels of entrepreneurship are found in Eu- evaluators for proposals submitted under the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) page 1 H c 7 hasi empthe sed laos es ieit c rente as fo elors’eporuE ropeoitan naisA depoelev dngmo and a ,ew paroiSgnna dpan  as Ja uch ns s eravel  sleig hsthelehihe t atovn,ioofs nn i ehtsixetic  gni vitaltence of infrastructures and access to large workforces. ‘E I f u n o - d u i n a  d  a a nd m   o C n hi g n  d a. eveloping Asian countries such as Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r . o 2 pean cities offer real opportunities to innova- Programme Implementation . . . . . t 1 iv 1 seitic  ira lavrehtra e eht ,UEeg rn e a   iom d a i e i   n e d d u r v k ila,sb tuw  eumts e Wi n t s h u i r n e    that our Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a 1 ls 3 enerpert e n f e f   o e   v o ita actr i a d t s r a   , i   f  ip lv s e h t u i r e   l s   n s i s i e t y n t o .]W .[..s n t n   o h v e o   f m   u i s e s ls  a   r l n e e v Calls and Tenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 th 4 in Europe and be welcomP-rofessor Reynolds. Efforts to promote innovation e diversity that exists General Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 1 n 5 g to outsiders,’ he said.  in Europe, he believes, will benefit from good edu- Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 cational systems, growing research investment, e Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 2 n 3 ssecrM ,ntmero pnl egear tfot eh eoctnxeth elibomled and , a skilurtcrusecnai ltsd henafitaisbl Other Items Online . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 L 6 iikanen said that the acceding countries face a CORDIS on the Web . . . . . . . . . . 27 major challenge, but that the capacity that they continued on page 4

PUBLISHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION • INNOVATION

2

Innovation communication calls for revised innovation policy

The European Commission hasdopted a communication on innovation policy emphasising the need to focus on entrepreneur innovation and for innovation policy to be integrated into other policy areas.

Innovation plays a crucial role in improvin  area for Member States and the Commis- competitiveness, andw as expected to be sion alike. discussed as part of the Lisbon strategy  The communication calls for the necessary the Spring Council on 21 March.  changes at national level so as to facilitate ‘Innovation is viewed as a multi-dimension  innovation, stating ‘the resistance to struc- concept, which goes beyond technologica  tural change that is frequently encountered innovation to encompass, for example, ne  in Europe must be overcome when it stands means of distribution, marketing or desig  as an obstacle to innovation.’ Innovation is thus not only limited to hig  Changes must also be made in the candi- tech sectors of the economy, but rather a  date countries, according to the communi- L o ii m ka ni n p e r n e , s   e E n U t     C d o riv m e m r  i f s o s r i   o g n r e o r  w f t o h r ,   ’  E s n a t i e d r   p E r r i k s cation. While some challenges, such as risk nd I formation Society, welcoming th  aversion and under investment in R&D, are a n  similar to those experienced in the Member communication’s adoption.  States, some are unique to Central and East- The communication expands on this idea: © European Communities ern Europe. ‘The legacies of centrally- ‘Important though research is as the source of invention, innovation encompasses more planned economies have left their mark, not than the successful application of research only on their economic but also on their in- results. The evolution of the innovation con-stitutional,  educational and social frame- cept - from the linear model having R&Dworks,’  states the paper. [research and development] as the starting point to the systemic model in which inno-In response to these specific challenges, the published by: o m n a f r t i r s o evati a     c h o s m a f l r p s     t   s i e e   x i p l l b o a m s i e t p c o a t r o e s t   n on - s e i b r   o s   n p o oCmmsi EUROPEAN COMMISSION tween individuals, organisations and theirfor these countries to exchange informa- operating environment - demonstrates tha tion and experience, and to extend the Eu- Enterprise Directorate-General innovation polices must extend their focusropean innovation scoreboard to give equal Innovation Directorate beyond the link with research.’  coverage to the candidate countries. Communi L c - a 2 t 9 io 2 n 0     a L n u d x   e A m wa b r o e u n r e g ss Unit (C.4 T ) he paper outlines three areas for policyThe Commission suggests that Member action: the creation of co-ordination mecha-States submit national innovation pro- Fax: [phone] nisms; the establishment of a sector-specifigcrammes and agencies on a voluntary basis, E-mail: [e-mail] focus; and interaction with other policies.  for evaluation under a new pilot initiative. This would enable the identification of the CORDIS focusis also available at: e i   c m s e e c o t P i i v l effeost   in m ncingluen inf t i h t o s d e ologies for h o t v   a e t r i p o - n o  capabili http://www.cordis.lu/focus/en/na dht eebah omitnoo i s n e f s   i v n a a n c o   o   n e t b i   s - e e   r u c i o w u   v d i n o i f h r t   e n h t t     e . p U r E e   r Based on information ated at any level: local, regional, national, EU from CORDIS News rderIn oensu to ah tert rpmoht eo a f b n o   l i g o   o r t oc ehT .l ‘co-tes thatitnos atmouminac available onthe Web at: herence and complementarity between theinnovation in the public sector is not over- different levels is clearly essential.’ Sector l - ooked, the Commission also intends to or-  http://www.cordis.lu/news asganise platforms for the exchange of expe- specific policy responses are highlighted necessary for fields such as information an r d ience relating to promoting and communication technologies (ICTs) and bio-disseminating information on innovation technology. within governments and the public services. It will also promote training and awareness Policy action is also required to encourage  in the the implementation of innovation policy activities  n o   n p r o f l o i r ci m es a   n a c n e d     o f f a  f c i t r o m rs s   ,  s e h s a t p abli g sh a through other policies: ‘Innovation con- i W n e n b o   v s a e t r i v o ice p   e providing tutorials and dissemi- w C e O e R ks D   I b S y     fo h c e u   s I  i n s n   o p v u a b t l i i o sh n  e D d i   r e e v c e t r o y r   a t t w e  o as cepts  otomprd die the -imess e bmgnyl  a d t n i i n deed n   t b ia e i  m   u g s n t i  e s a n s a i i i t n e c v r t of t t he European Community’s  of good practices emanating from many policy areas,’ states the communican-ation par c  - l a iocpremurt enh u t g u   a s t s i t r g o e . t s h e s i   natehc mouminacitnotion p .  b T u Sixth Research Framework tional governments are conservative in de- lease vis Programme, and presents the latest veloping innovation policy because of ideas s oT taoi-nopuli/nnvolicy/th p  s.dior.cww/w:/tp taoinnvoehi eet ion,icatmmunn co news on European Union research and of departmental territory. As a policy with- communications innovation and related programmes out a well-defined territory or an adminis- htnomoceBdesaCOon20M()n1i0m3uti1c2a and policies. trative home, innovation is a difficult policy98N192RC

CORDIS FOCUS - NUMBER 217

24 MARCH 2003