Business support and innovation are key to European enterprise - Liikanen
The role of business support networks in Europe is even more important in light of the oncoming economic slowdown and the events of 11 September, according to Enterprise and Information society Commissioner, Erkki Liikanen. 'We need more than ever to focus on competitiveness. Entrepreneurship and innovation policies are part of this,' he said at the Euro info centres (EIC) conference on 8 November. He highlighted that European business support networks have already played a key role in the progress of European businesses, particularly small and medium sized ones (SMEs) over the past ten years, adding that 'we count on this continuing involvement to provide increased support for European companies.' The 300 centres in 37 countries have already been fundamental in preparing companies for the changeover to the Euro, helping businesses in the field of e-commerce, acting as partner brokers and forging ahead in preparation for the enlargement process. But further efficiency of these networks should remain a goal, according to Mr Liikanen. He said that more coherence could be ensured if a company was guaranteed that it could access the right information from any contact point and if the networks ensured that they worked with, rather than competed against, each other. Beyond this, the Commissioner pointed out that the European Commission is concentrating its enterprise policy on three major areas: encouraging risk-taking and the spirit of enterprise; building a dynamic enterprise environment based on innovation; and ensuring effective access to the internal market. He added that next year will be an important year for European businesses as it will be when a common e-platform for all business networks will be established, as well as being the occasion of the next pivotal EIC conference, to be held in Oulu Finland in June 2002.