Stakeholders release declaration on innovation
Innovation professionals have released a list of priority actions needed to ensure the EU's competitiveness. The 'Valencia Declaration on Innovation' sets out 20 points for action based on feedback collected from innovation specialists, researchers, CEOs, managers and others attending the Europe Innova conference in Valencia, Spain, from 26 to 28 November. Many of the points echo those raised by the European Commission in its own 10-point innovation strategy which was issued back in September. Like the Commission, the innovation stakeholders place a high priority on education, improving the links between research and industry, reforming state aid rules, stimulating research through public procurement and strengthening regional innovation. Other points which coincide with Commission priorities include the call for the establishment of a European Institute of Technology (EIT), greater protection of intellectual property and removing obstacles to researchers' and engineers' mobility, both between sectors and countries. On the subject of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the declaration notes a need for an 'innovation-friendly environment that enables them to become more actively involved in research and technological development'. The declaration calls on the European Commission and Member States to accelerate the structural reforms needed to achieve this. The issue of innovation in the services sector is also raised. 'Innovation in services will support the competitiveness of the EU economy,' says the paper. 'The Commission and Member States should ensure that their policy tools and instruments support all forms of innovation, including in services.' Elsewhere the declaration calls on the Commission to establish a 'Pan-European Innovation Platform for start-ups in knowledge intense services, linking universities, incubators and the financing community to support young innovative SMEs.' On the issue of jobs, the paper notes that 'Europe needs to better use the substantial employment opportunities that the areas of eco-innovation and sustainable development are offering.' The authors of the paper invite the European Commission to take note of their concerns and pass them on to the Competitiveness Council. Europe's heads of government gave their backing to many of these proposals at their informal summit in Lahti, Finland, in October when they discussed the Commission's 10 point innovation strategy.