Presidency to conduct further preparatory work on innovation strategy
The Competitiveness Council welcomed the Finnish Presidency's plans to prepare the way for a broad-based innovation policy strategy when it met in Brussels on 25 September. The strategy will focus on the 10 points outlined in the Commission's recent communication, 'Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU'. The paper will be discussed at an informal meeting of Heads of State and Government on 20 October. The Competitiveness Council listened to an exchange of views on innovation and competitiveness, as well as a presentation by Commission Vice-President Günther Verheugen. Using the 10-point plan and discussions at the October meeting, the Council's preparatory bodies will submit a draft text of conclusions on innovation policy for adoption at the 4 December Competitiveness Council. The document is expected to be input for the Key Issues Paper for the 2007 Spring European Council. The Commission's 10-point plan includes calls to: establish a European Institute of Technology (EIT); work towards a single and attractive labour market for researchers; strengthen research-industry links; enhance intellectual property rights protection (IPR); and develop a strategy for innovation friendly 'lead markets'. The 10-point plan includes calls for 'political leadership and decisive action' from the EU Member States and acceding countries, and calls on them to modify their economic policies and make other structural reforms so that the 10 priorities can be easily implemented.
Countries
Finland