Getting the figures right on innovation
The high technology sector has double the employment growth rate of the service and manufacturing sectors in Europe, the European Union has a smaller number of researchers as a percentage of its workforce and Scandinavian countries excel at cooperation in innovation matters. This is just a selection of the conclusions drawn from 'Key figures in science, technology and innovation' published by the European Commission's Research Directorate-General. The figures provided in the publication form an important part of the contribution to establishing a European research area (ERA) as proposed by Research Commissioner, Philippe Busquin who said of the report: 'I am fully aware that the present data are not as such elements for the benchmarking of national research policies, which is essential for our move towards ERA. But they will provide useful input to the important benchmarking initiatives which are under preparation.' The publication analyses the following five areas: - performance in terms of growth, employment and competitiveness and the respective contribution made by research, technological development and innovation - investment in knowledge (as in research and development expenditure, education, software) and venture capital investment - human resources in and for science and technology including indicators of mobility and attractiveness - scientific and inventive output and high-tech trade, including regional indicators. - indicators on the patterns of innovation in Europe.