Parliament backs Commission innovation strategy
The European Parliament gave its backing to a European Commission Communication on 'Innovation in a knowledge-driven economy' on 3 October. In adopting the proposals, the Parliament backed Commission initiatives in the field of innovation-oriented research, such as the proposed European research area (ERA) and proposals for the Sixth RTD (research and technological development) Framework programme. It stressed, however, the need for modernisation and improvement of innovation policy and for financial support of such policy within Europe. It stated in particular that more should be done to improve the promotion and progress of EU innovation vis-à-vis Japan and the USA, and called for greater emphasis to be given to SMEs. Closer ties are needed between business and academia so that industry can benefit from research, Parliament said, adding that researchers should be encouraged to move to industry in order to prevent a 'brain drain' of scientific talent to countries such as the USA. The Commission presented its Communication on 'Innovation in a knowledge-driven economy' in September 2000. It sets out broad policy guidelines for enhancing innovation policy in the EU, including five main objectives: the coherence of innovation policies, a regulatory framework conducive to innovation, encouragement of the creation and growth of innovative enterprises, improving key interfaces in the innovation system and the creation of a society open to innovation. By the end of 2001, the Commission hopes to identify and promote the use of good practice and formulate rules to make existing regulatory frameworks more innovation-friendly. Contribution to regular reporting on progress in improving the legal and regulatory framework is planned for the middle of 2002.