Structure of the document:
The European Innovation Monitoring System is one of the main lines of actions of the Community INNOVATION Programme. It covers a set of activities aimed at providing firms, intermediaries, academics and policy makers with information, analysis and research on the factors shaping, promoting and inhibiting innovation at company level across Europe. /eims/home.html
In seeking to fulfil these objectives, EIMS is undertaking the following activities:
EIMS projects use desk research, surveys and case study methodologies. Data collection and analyses are performed by pan-European teams from universities, research institutes and consultancy firms. The large scale Community Innovation Survey (CIS) data collection, in-depth case studies and quantitative surveys contribute further to research on public policies and on the innovation process itself. /eims/src/cis.htm
Policy makers in the Member States and in the Commission have been the main target group for EIMS work.
Raising the profile of both the innovative activities of firms and the role of public programmes and of intermediaries, strengthening the base of available knowledge. Practitioners and managers of intermediary functions in the technology transfer process have been another main target group for an important part of EIMS work. This has complemented other exploratory studies, experiments and services initiated by the Commission.
The diffusion of results has been mainly based on publications, workshops and conferences organised since 1993 with the participation of the main actors from the innovation and knowledge system: managers, policy makers, academics and enterprises.
/eims/home.html
Below, after the description of the three main EIMS activities, you will be navigated through the main areas of EIMS, with the possibility to get access to detailed project information.
The 6 main EIMS areas are:
- Innovation policy
- Finance
- Empirical studies and the Community Innovation Survey (CIS)
- Regional aspects of innovation
- Innovation in firms
- Innovation and technology transfer and supporting infrastructures
The monitoring of innovation and diffusion
This is conducted through surveys and studies on themes such as the innovative capabilities and performances of firms, the scale, scope, usage and performance of innovation infrastructures and innovation supporting services, the identification of obstacles and impediments to the dissemination of technologies, as well as the effects of public action supporting innovation infrastructures and innovating firms. This work encompasses both innovation studies based on data already available which provide "state-of-the-art" empirical overviews, as well as the collection and processing of new data on innovation in Europe, in close collaboration with EUROSTAT.
Work on the conceptual framework of the innovation process
Activities here focus on models and theories of innovation processes and on the aquisition of technological competence from external sources, on conceptualizing innovation infrastructures and the diffusion of new technologies. The objective is to formulate concepts which can be used to guide empirical research and guide future development. This should lead on to the development of methodologies and codes of best practice.
The innovation policy experience exchange
Drawing on conclusions derived from the work referred to above, the innovation policy experience exchange aims at improving the synergies and the overall efficiency of policies implemented at regional, national and European levels. This is done by the exchange of good practice, the assessment of the role of regions, Member States and the Community in formulating and executing innovation policy, the assessment of existing as well as future Community actions and the scope for concerted actions.
Main areas of EIMS
(access to detailed project information)
The research and analytical activities of EIMS focus on six main areas of relevance for innovation in Europe:
1. Innovation policy
A large number of EIMS projects focused on the comparison and analysis of policies, instruments and approaches across European countries and their main competitors at the international level.
In particular the national innovation policy correspondence network set up was a valuable source of information and did contribute to the elaboration of the Action Plan for Innovation.
The current approach to innovation of both research and most of the policies formulated at national level views the innovation and knowledge system as a whole rather than as separate areas of research or intervention for governments. This systems approach to innovation has been the subject of an important EIMS study on innovation policy, presenting an integrated approach to European innovation and technology diffusion policy, the "Maastricht memorandum" published in 1993. Under the systems approach to innovation, both research and public initiatives in related areas focus increasingly on functions, relations, feed-backs, networks, and structures such as legal requirements, regulation, quality considerations, standards, and the 'learning organisation'.
Click here /eims/src/stud-1.htm to get more information on:
- An integrated Approach to European Innovation and Technology Diffusion Policy: a Maastricht Memorandum, 1993
- Public Measures supporting new technology based firms: Workshop Proceedings, 1994
- Policies to support Tacit Knowledge Transfer: Workshop Proceedings, 1993
- Public Measures to support the Clustering and Networks of Innovative SMEs: Workshop Proceedings, 1995
- Publlic Schemes Promoting Active Involvement of Employees in Innovation, 1995
- Innovative Capability, Embeddedness, and the contribution of foreign firms to innovation in their host regions, 1996
- International Transfer of Organizational Innovation, 1996
2. Finance
The studies and workshops conducted on the financial environment for innovation and technology transfer can be broadly categorised into three groups: general policy orientation and exchange of experience and good practice; methodological and exploratory studies; evaluation and technical studies. The combination of studies and workshops on the subject, organising the exchange of experience between policy makers, and complementing this process with necessary methodological input coming from academic research or professional experience, has proved to be a valuable instrument in policy development.
For instance, the studies and exchanges on the subject of exit mechanisms for venture capital and the need for transeuropean, highly liquid capital markets for high growth companies, have been instrumental in fostering the debate on these matters, both within and outside the Commission.
Similarly, the ongoing study on performance benchmarks for venture capital investments is proving to be highly important for the transparency of the venture capital industry; it is hoped that this benchmarking practice will enhance in particular the fund-raising capacity of the industry.
The quality of the study on securitization mechanisms has been widely acknowledged. Its results will form one of the elements of a debate to enhance the involvement of EIB and EIF instruments in innovation financing.
The extensive analysis of the specific financing problems of NTBFs (New Technology Based Firms) and of possible remedies have provided important input for the development of the chapters in the Green Paper on Innovation dealing with innovation financing. The current status of the debate on the Green Paper, both within and outside the Commission services, and the priorities for action identified, largely confirm the focus of the EIMS studies and workshops on topics such as equity investment and venture capital involvement, new capital markets, guarantee mechanisms and their refinancing, specific problems in financing intangible assets, etc.
Click here /eims/src/stud-2.htm to get more information on:
- European Second -Tier Markets for NTBFs, 1994
- Securitisation of Guaranteed SME Loans in Europe and Finance for Innovation, 1995
- Potential Market for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), 1995
- Innovation Financing: Private Investors, Banks & Technology Appraisal, Nov. 1996
- Making Markets Work: Support Services for Equity Markets for Emerging Growth Companies in Europe
- Pan-European study of the performance of venture capital
3. Empirical studies and the Community Innovation Survey (CIS)
See also: /eims/src/cis.htm
Under the Community Innovation Survey (CIS), a joint initiative of the INNOVATION programme and EUROSTAT, data on innovation practice at company level has been collected for the first time in a systematic way at a European level. In October 1995, the first results of the Community Innovation Survey database were made available to EIMS contractors. Analysis could then begin on a range of issues such as technology diffusion, innovation strategies of large firms, new and fast growing firms. The results of such analyses were presented at the conference, "Innovation Measurement and Policies" on the 20-21 of May 1996 in Luxembourg.
Click here to get more information about the topics below:
/eims/src/stud-3.htm
- Innovation Activities and Industrial Structure: Industry and R&D in a Comparative Context, 1993
- Investment, Innovation and Competitiveness: Sectoral Performance within the Triad, 1993
- Patterns of Innovation in Italian Industry, 1993
- Innovation Structures and Performance in Nordic Manufacturing Industry, 1993
- Evaluation of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) - Phase 1, 1995
- Technological Diffusion, Productivity and Competitiveness: An Empirical Analysis for 10 Countries - Part 1: Technology Diffusion Patterns, 1993
- Europe's Pharmaceutical Industry: An Innovation Profile (CIS), 1996
- Innovation Outputs in European Industry (CIS), 1996
- Innovation in the European Food Products and Beverages Industry (CIS), 1996
- Technology Transfer, Information Flows and Collaboration (CIS), 1996
- The Impact of Innovation on Employment: Alternative interpretations and results of the Italian CIS, 1996
- Innovation in the European Chemical Industry (CIS), 1996
- Innovation in the European Telecom Equipment Industry (CIS), 1996
- Innovation Activities in Pulp, Paper and Paper Products in Europe (CIS), 1996
- The Impact of Innovation in Employment in Europe - An Analysis
- Computer and Office Machinery -Firms external growth & technological diversification: analysis during CIS, 1997
- Innovation Expenditures in European Industry: analysis from CIS, 1997
- Manufacture of Machinery and Electrical Machinery (CIS), 1997
- Innovation Measurements and Policies : Proceedings of International Conference, 1997
4. Regional aspects of innovation
The regional actions of the INNOVATION Programme include RITTS (Regional Innovation and Technology Transfer Strategies) under DG XIII and RIS (Regional Innovation Strategies) under DG XVI, as well as validation and evaluation support to Science Parks. These actions are mainly pilot projects in the sense that they are innovative in comparison with other regional projects or in the sense that the concepts on which they are based are being developed alongside their implementation. EIMS projects in this field are of three types.
Firstly, there are methodological studies with a theoretical approach. These seek to improve the knowledge in particular areas such as regional innovation indicators. While these projects are undertaken by experts in the respective areas, the resulting knowledge is to be disseminated widely in the regions.
Secondly, some projects aim to increase the knowledge of tools and methodologies among practitioners in the field and diffuse the experience of good practice. Guidebooks for RITTS and RIS are examples of such work presented in a language that isunderstandable to practitioners.
Lastly, evaluation tools are used to examine the extent to which the Commission actionhas been effective and to define future actions. It is also important to conduct acontinuous process of evaluation in order to correct the target and approach during project development and to adapt actions to needs.
Click here /eims/src/stud-4.htm to find more information on the listed topics:
- Surveys of Regional Innovation? A Feasibility Study for Europe, 1994
- Analysis of SME Needs: Methodology in Design, Construction and Operation of Regional Technology Frameworks, 1996
- Assessment of the Regional Innovation Support Infrastructure: Methodology in Design, Construction and Operation of Regional Technology Frameworks, 1996
- Means of Obtaining and Exploiting Information on Main Industrial and Technology Trends: Methodology in Design, Construction and Operation of Regional Technology Frameworks, 1996
- Innovative Regions? A Comparative Review of Methods of Evaluation of Regional Innovation Potential, 1995
5. Innovation in firms
EIMS projects in this area have explored aspects which are important for the diffusion of competence. This is specifically targeted at the level of the individual firm or in specific groups of enterprises. These include studies on the innovation strategies of Europe's 500 largest enterprises, the role of knowledge-intensive business services, clustering and networking of innovative SMEs, trends in standards and studiescontributing to the development of models or classification schemes.
Via /eims/src/stud-5.htm access is given to:
- Knowledge-Intensive Business Services. Users, Carriers and Sources of Innovation, 1995
- Innovation Strategies of Europe's Largest Industrial Firms, June 1995
- Innovation Management Tools: A Review of Selected Methodologies, The Evaluation of the Specific Project Action Line, April 1996
- New Techology Based Firms in Europe, 1996, (draft)
- Review of Studies on Innovation Fast Growing SMEs
6. Innovation and technology transfer and supporting infrastructures
Studies in this area had a double objective: they concentrated on the functions to be performed if companies, in particular SMEs, are to have access to the services which are essential for their ability to innovate or to adopt new or improved technologies. At thesame time, they investigate the composite organisations and the characteristics structures of the infrastructure providing such services and the conditions under whichthey operate.
- Quality Promotion in Europe. A Review of European Community Member States' National and Regional Schemes and Measures in the Field of Quality, 1994
- Quality Networking in Europe
- The future of research and technology organisations in Europe: Conference Proceedings, 1994
- Technology Brokers in Europe, 1995
Vol. 1/3: Summary
Vol. 2/3: Summary and Country Reports (out of print)
Vol. 3/3: Directory
- Technology Demonstration and Application Centres in the
- European Union, 1995
Vol. 1/2: Empirical survey 1994 and Workshop Proceedings
Vol. 2/2: Country reports EU, USA and Japan
- Science Park Networks
Vol. 1/2: Development, characterisation and role, Jan. 1995
Vol. 2/2: 12 Country reports, May 1994
- Consulting Engineering Services in Europe, March 1996
- Good Practice in Managing Transnational Technology Transfer Networks, 1995
Vol. 1/2: Subject Papers
Vol. 2/2: Case Histories/Summary
- Survey of the Innovation Infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe, Nov. 1994
- Good Practice in the Transfer of University Technology to Industry, May 1996
Vol. 1/2: Good Practice Guide
Vol. 2/2: Case Studies
- Comparative Study of Science Parks in Europe: Keys to a Community Innovation Policy
- The Role of Technology Transfer Projects in the Innovation Process, Dec. 1996
Back to EIMS homepage? /eims/home.html
- Innovation policy
- Finance
- Empirical studies and the Community Innovation Survey (CIS)
- Regional aspects of innovation
- Innovation in firms
- Innovation and technology transfer and supporting infrastructures
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