Innovation communication calls for revised innovation policy
The European Commission has adopted a communication on innovation policy emphasising the need to focus on entrepreneurial innovation and for innovation policy to be integrated into other policy areas. Innovation plays a crucial role in improving competitiveness, and will be discussed as part of the Lisbon strategy at the Spring Council on 21 March. 'Innovation is viewed as a multi-dimensional concept, which goes beyond technological innovation to encompass, for example, new means of distribution, marketing or design. Innovation is thus not only limited to high tech sectors of the economy, but rather an omnipresent driver for growth,' said Erkki Liikanen, EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society, welcoming the communication's adoption. The communication expands on this idea: 'Important though research is as the source of invention, innovation encompasses more than the successful application of research results. The evolution of the innovation concept - from the linear model having R&D [research and development] as the starting point to the systemic model in which innovation arises from complex interactions between individuals, organisations and their operating environment - demonstrates that innovation polices must extend their focus beyond the link with research.' The paper outlines three areas for policy action: the creation of coordination mechanisms; the establishment of a sector-specific focus; and interaction with other policies. Policies influencing innovation capabilities and the behaviour of enterprises can be created at any level: local, regional, national, EU or global. The communication states that 'coherence and complementarity between the different levels is clearly essential.' Sector-specific policy responses are highlighted as necessary for fields such as information and communication technologies (ICTs) and biotechnology. Policy action is also required to encourage the implementation of innovation policy through other policies: 'Innovation concepts must be increasingly embedded in many policy areas,' states the communication. The communication suggests that national governments are conservative in developing innovation policy because of ideas of departmental territory. As a policy without a well defined territory or an administrative home, innovation is a difficult policy area for Member States and the Commission alike. The communication calls for the necessary changes at national level so as to facilitate innovation, stating 'the resistance to structural change that is frequently encountered in Europe must be overcome when it stands as an obstacle to innovation.' Changes must also be made in the candidate countries, according to the communication. While some challenges, such as risk aversion and under investment in R&D, are similar to those experienced in the Member States, some are unique to Central and Eastern Europe. 'The legacies of centrally-planned economies have left their mark, not only on their economic but also on their institutional, educational and social frameworks,' states the paper. In response to these specific challenges, the commission proposes to establish a platform for these countries to exchange information and experience, and to extend the European innovation scoreboard to give equal coverage to the candidate countries. The Commission suggests that Member States submit national innovation programmes and agencies on a voluntary basis, for evaluation under a new pilot initiative. This would enable the identification of the most effective methodologies for the promotion of innovation used within the EU. In order to ensure that the promotion of innovation in the public sector is not overlooked, the Commission also intends to organise platforms for the exchange of experience relating to promoting and disseminating information on innovation within governments and the public services. It will also promote training and awareness activities on policies and factors shaping the innovation performance of firms, establish a web service providing tutorials and disseminating initiatives and promote the dissemination of good practices emanating from public procurement authorities.