Skills for Innovation

Submitted by Administrator on 9 February, 2010 - 10:35

Sep 27 2007

Event Date:

27 September, 2007 - 02:00

Venue:

Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow

Fostering skills to improve European innovation performanceThe INNO-Views Workshop on “Skills for Innovation: Fostering skills to improve European innovation performance” was held in Glasgow, UK, from 27 to 28 September 2007. There were about 40 participants, ranging from policy-makers over experts from universities and research to representatives from international institutions.

The broadening concept of innovation stresses the need for a better understanding of the role that education and training play for innovation. What kind of skills and competencies influence the innovation performance of companies, and of regional and national innovation systems? How can these “skills for innovation” be fostered? What role does the public policy play in promoting innovation skills and what is good policy practice in Europe?

These questions have been discussed in the INNO-Views workshop together with other challenges to be addressed to improve European innovation performance.

The workshop was organised in five sessions, starting with the opening session preparing the background for three thematic sessions and a final wrap-up.

Demography and migration – trends, challenges and opportunities

This session took a closer look at the impact of demography and migration on growth and innovation performance. What is the current and forecasted availability of scientific, technological and engineering skills in Europe? In what areas are new or improved skills needed? What are the options for immigration of scientific skills, or for offshoring of skill needs? What are the demographic challenges and opportunities from integrating immigrants and old workers?

Fostering entrepreneurial skills and innovation management

This session focused on the contribution of entrepreneurial skills and innovation management to innovation performance. Are we generating enough innovative companies in Europe? How good are European companies at managing innovation? National representatives will be invited to elaborate on existing policies to foster entrepreneurial skills, innovation management and workers’ “basic” innovation skills, on success stories as well as on failures?

Culture and environment in support of innovation

This session of the workshop addressed the horizontal topic of innovation culture: How can a culture for innovation and an innovation friendly climate be fostered? How can a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, change and innovation be created?

Main topics addressed, core statements of the discussions and first conclusions will be summarised in an output paper, which will become available soon.