Reinventing Europe through innovation

- From a knowledge society to an innovation society

From INNOVATION UNLIMITED (http://ec.europa.eu/culture/key-documents/doc/forum/innovation_consultation.pdf)

Innovation has been a central EU priority over the last decade, repeatedly supported by European leaders and backed by numerous strategies, funding programmes and assessments.

But Europe has not achieved its full goal of being the most competitive global knowledge economy and is not investing effectively or appropriately in the infrastructure, competences, creative environments and businesses needed for 21st century innovation. Public support for innovation is primarily provided through complex, slow and uncoordinated programmes.

Private finance mainly backs the same low risk investments. Thus people, entrepreneurs and companies with ambitious and creative ideas find limited support and numerous barriers.

Broader public policy and public services in particular take little advantage of the power of innovation to transform society. Many parts of the enlarged Union are left under-using their innovation potential. The current economic situation and looming new realities - like Europe's rapidly ageing, increasingly intercultural society and fast developments in other regions of the world - only amplify these weaknesses and make the need for radical change more urgent.

The European flag needs a new star – 'The Seastar' – which symbolises an innovation policy which is decentralised, self renewing, and connected; and which builds on the unique diversity of an enlarged Union in an increasingly competitive and globalised world. A knowledge society is not enough. Europe must create an innovation society where knowledge is utilised rapidly and powerfully for societal benefit and development.

This requires a systematic transformation from fragmented, single issue, closed approaches favouring large incumbents to networked, flexible and open approaches favouring new entrants and ideas. We will call on European policy makers – the European Institutions, national and regional governments – to support this transformation. But first we are sharing our ideas with you to provoke open debate and ask what is important for you.