CIP gets go-ahead from MEPs
The European Parliament adopted the EU's first 'Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme' (CIP) on 1 June, allocating EUR 3.6 billion to innovative small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) for the period 2007 to 2013. CIP comprises three specific programmes: to help small businesses invest in all forms of innovation; boost energy efficiency; and encourage improved use of information and communications technology (ICT). 'Never in its history has the European Parliament managed to adopt a framework programme at a first reading,' said German MEP and CIP rapporteur Jorgo Chatzimarkakis. The ease with which the Parliament adopted the framework reflects the importance of innovation across different political groups. Explaining that CIP will ease the marketing of excellent ideas, the MEP referred to a number of European inventions that have been exploited elsewhere, including Fax, MP3 and Transrapid (monorail). 'Bringing CIP to take-off in a first reading agreement is the sunrise for innovation in Europe,' added Mr Chatzimarkakis. 'CIP includes new ideas, less administrative burden, a broader scope of innovation and meanwhile manages to include the existing and well running programme parts.' The existing programme parts referred to by the MEP include the eTEN, eContent and MODINIS programmes for ICT, and the Intelligent Energy programme. The programme's budget has been from EUR 4.21 billion to EUR 3.6 billion, but MEPs and the Commission alike appear content with the new figure. Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industry policy, referred to CIP as a 'direct response to the call of the Lisbon mid-term review for simpler, more visible and more targeted EU action to boost growth and jobs'. The Council is expected to adopt the programme before the end of June.