Issue No. 1 (Oct. 2010) - Transforming Europe into an “Innovation Union”

Submitted by empirica on 26 October, 2010 - 15:51
Date: 
October, 2010
PDF version: 
application/pdf iconInnovation Policy News 01 - INNO-Grips Newsletter October 2010
Acknowledgements: 
This edition of the INNO-Grips newsletter has been prepared by empirica Gesellschaft für Kommunikations- und Technologieforschung mbH, Oxfordstr. 2, 53111 Bonn, Germany, on behalf of the European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate General.
Editors: Hannes Selhofer, Stefan Lilischkis (empirica); Peter O'Donnell
Table of contents: 
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Editorial – Smart Innovation Policy for Smart and Sustainable Growth

Dear Readers,

An openness to do things in a new and better way is necessary to address the huge economic, environmental and social challenges of our day, and to realise the vision of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In short, what is needed is the capability for innovation. Innovation policy is increasingly seen as key to promote and accelerate the required process of change. The challenge is to select, from among the wide variety of instruments and approaches, the most effective for specific contexts. This INNO-Grips newsletter aims to raise awareness about specific trends and issues in innovation policy.

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Transforming Europe into an “Innovation Union”

On 6 October 2010, the European Commission adopted the Innovation Union Communication, one of the seven flagships of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The Innovation Union is key to achieving the goals of a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy set out in this vision. In a nutshell, the Innovation Union aims to improve conditions and access to finance for research and innovation in Europe and to ensure that innovative ideas can be turned more easily into products and services that create growth and jobs.

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Boosting Scale-ups Requires Changes to Europe's Laws and Culture

US investor and innovation policy advisor Burton Lee recommends promoting angel and venture capital and modifying labour law, corporate law and bankruptcy law. The European Commission could provide model legislation for Member States.

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Social Innovation Deserves Attention Too

The discussion of innovation usually focuses on technological advances, new products and business processes. But if innovation is important in business, why should it not be relevant for addressing problems in society as well? The concept of “social innovation” is increasingly attracting attention.

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Fostering Innovation through Public Procurement

Innovation has often been initiated by changing customer requirements – i.e. the demand side. Theoretically, public procurement could therefore play an important role as a driver of innovation. However, there is still not enough clarity about the practical mechanisms to make effective use of this instrument.

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International Innovation Policy News

INNO-Grips monitors international developments in innovation policy. A network of correspondents from more than 30 countries worldwide reports regularly about the launch of new initiatives and other relevant events in their country. Their news reports are published on the INNO-Grips website. This article features a selection of news from some of the countries covered.

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About INNO-Grips & this newsletter

This newsletter is an INNO-Grips publication. INNO-Grips stands for “Global Review of Innovation Policy Studies”. It supports policy-makers in adopting appropriate responses to emerging innovation needs, trends and phenomena. It analyses framework conditions and barriers and drivers to innovation and innovation policy, and offers intelligence on international developments in these fields. INNO-Grips is part of the European Commission's PRO INNO Europe portal, a focal point for innovation policy analysis and cooperation.

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