Policy Cooperation

Since its launch in 2006, PRO INNO Europe® has supported closer cooperation between innovation policy makers at different levels, thus contributing to the creation of a European Innovation Space. New innovation policy concepts were jointly developed and tested which helped improve their efficiency and more rapid implementation throughout Europe. In its first phase, PRO INNO Europe® assists the participating countries and their regions to better invest in innovation, by learning from others and sharing practical experience with them.

With the second phase starting in 2009, PRO INNO Europe® is launching a new set of initiatives that focus on specific priority areas, namely clusters, eco-innovation and services. Moreover, increased efforts will be undertaken to bring innovation to the citizen and to improve practical cooperation between innovation agencies. The identification and further dissemination of “good practice” is no longer good enough.

To make real progress, the participating countries and regions will work closer together in search of “better practice” in support of innovation and take concrete steps to put this into practice.

The new INNO-Nets and INNO-Actions closely reflect the recommendations of the Communication "Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU", notably in relation to making the EU more innovation friendly through wide partnerships involving consumers and citizens and by promoting cooperation between stakeholders. Therefore, the INNO-Nets and INNO-Actions bring together public actors responsible for innovation with a view to fostering transnational cooperation on support for innovation through different instruments.