Commission launches public consultation on innovation action plan
The Commission's Enterprise Directorate-General is developing a new innovation action plan, and has launched a public consultation to gather contributions from innovation stakeholders in Europe. Improving Europe's innovative performance is seen as vital to increasing overall competitiveness. The action plan aims to address the market deficiencies that currently hamper innovation in European companies by mobilising resources and agreeing ambitious common objectives with Member States. The Commission states that the action plan will seek to 'place the enterprise at the centre of innovation policy' by focusing on key issues relevant to the innovation process inside companies. These issues include the regulatory environment, the market in knowledge, and the financial and human resources that affect innovation. The action plan will recognise the importance of both technological and non-technological innovation, and will take account of the all embracing nature of innovation by creating dialogue between all stakeholders, including policy makers, regions, researchers, civil society or enterprises. The public consultation is open until 31 May, and the Commission seeks comments from interested parties in the public and private sector, administrations, industry, services, finance, research, education and civil society.