EPISIS calls for new mindset and strong actions to support service innovation in Europe

The EPISIS project is carried out by a consortium of leading national ministries and innovation agencies responsible for the design and implementation of service innovation support activities. The project duration is three years (2009–2012) and the overall budget is EUR 3 million. Two overarching factors (emphasis on non-sector specificity and on non-technological innovation) represent the EPISIS project.

The consortium consists of the Project Coordinator, Tekes – Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Finland), and four fellow partners: PT-DLR – Projektträger im Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (Germany), Vinnova (Sweden), DASTI – Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation (Denmark), and BIS – Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (United Kingdom).

 Wide coverage and validation is ensured through the European Service Innovation Think Tank. The Think Tank experts were selected through an expression of interest carried out July-August 2009. The Think Tank consists of the partners and 10 experts representing the following organisations: FFG (Austrian Research Promoting Agency), the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (Finland), OSEO (France), the Ministry of Education and Research (Germany), Enterprise Ireland, SenterNovem (Netherlands), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norway), the Public Agency for Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Spain) and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Communications (Sweden).  

EPISIS, an initiative under PRO-INNO Europe^®, aims at supporting service innovation at policy, strategy and operation levels. The main policy level objective is to advance a broad-based innovation policy approach by identifying emerging policy challenges and designing new policy concepts in response to them. At the strategic level, the objective is to enhance understanding on service innovation and to continue the mindset change to recognise service businesses and service innovation as a powerful economic force in the EU. The operational objective is to develop new and more efficient tools and measures to support service innovations. 

 The EPISIS kick-off meeting in September gathered together all the partners and the newly appointed Think Tank experts. The project has began administering various Work Packages and the next Think Tank meeting will take place between 24 and 26 November in Stockholm, alongside the Annual PRO INNO Partnering Event.  

For further information, please contact the Project Coordinator of the EPISIS project:

Ms. Anna-Maija Rautiainen
Tekes, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
Tel. +358 505577808
E-mail: anna-maija.rautiainen@tekes.fi