European Challenges for Innovation

As the European Union leaves behind the worst economic crisis for decades, it has the aspiration to achieve a more sustainable growth model and the react of quality jobs. For this, Europe must step up its efforts to stimulate innovation without further delay.

Europe must think clearly about its future. The world outlook for 2025, the so-called European paradox, where the results of research do not find their way to the marketplace sufficiently, and the competitive pressures from economic globalisation call for unlocking the full innovative potential of Europe. Innovation policy must be one of the central axes of European policy, with the highest political, budgetary and social commitment.

A framework for action is needed to unlock Europe’s innovation potential, in which all the elements are connected and work towards the same objective. An effective way of organising policy intervention consists in conceptualising a “pentagon of innovation”, the five axes of which are:

The “European Challenges for Innovation” conference, jointly organised between the Spanish ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Commision, will be an opportunity to exchange views on the way forward, organising the debate alongside the axis of the innovation pentagon and through examples of good practice across the EU.

The event will take place in 27th and 28th April 2010 in Bilbao (Spain) at the Euskalduna Conference Center.

Policymakers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business leaders ... all your knowledge and experience is needed to tackle the European challenges for innovation