Jyväskylä, 11/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - After two days of informal discussion in Jyväskylä, where the European Union ministers for industry and research have been meeting since 9 July, the Finnish minister for industry and president of the Competitiveness Council, Mauri Pekkarinen, told the press that he welcomed the “strong support” from Member States in favour of a “broadened approach to European innovation policy”, especially regarding the demand aspect, an aspect that has hitherto been neglected in innovation policies essentially focused on the supply aspect, that is, on R&D spending. With strong support from his peers and also from the Commission, which promised to put a major series of innovation-enhancing measures on the table by November, Mr Pekkarinen stated his intention to submit to the Competitiveness Council and European Council in December recommendations that will serve as a basis for reflection under the forthcoming presidencies.
Although in his concluding remarks he recognised that, at this stage, it is too early to set out in detail the content of an innovation policy based on a broader approach or to make proposals, Mr Pekkarinen nonetheless established a “road map” for a new innovation policy based on three pillars: (1) regulatory questions. This chapter first and foremost highlights the fact that efficient internal markets should be implemented to the greatest possible extent with special focus on finalising the Services Directive. It also states that European innovation policy requires an efficient patent system, and adequate measures for improving the regulatory framework and reform of State aid rules to make them innovation -friendly, mainly aimed at innovation in the service sector. Implementation of new public procurement regulations is also a priority of this first chapter - awareness needs to be raised among national authorities on how procurement regulations can be used to promote innovation. Also, the regulatory questions chapter requires indepth examination of the public sector's opportunities to provide service through utilisation of the markets, and there is a need to analyse how to develop sector-specific regulation. (2) Innovation funding. This section is based on three points: - effective use of Structural Funds in favour of innovation, better use of European Technology Platforms (requiring greater commitment on the part of Member States) and the creation of a Community-wide market for venture capital. (3) Institutions for producing innovation. This third section is also based on three points: better partnerships between universities and businesses, the creation of mechanisms to spread good practice regarding research and business partnerships in the Member States, and the setting in place of the European Institute of Technology.
The Presidency has developed a real timetable for implementing the roadmap. After an exceptional meeting on 24 July devoted to work on the 7th FPRD, the Competitiveness Council will hold a first overview, on 25 September, on the Commission's communication on innovation policy, promised for mid-September, and will discuss it on 4 and 5 December on the basis of deliberations by the High Level Group for Competitiveness and Growth.
A “very political” document, according to a close collaborator of Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen, this “umbrella” communication will define the Commission's broad strategy for a new innovation policy for Europe. It is like an “umbrella” because it will conduct a series of work between October and November that could take the form of communications or working papers on means to enhance innovation. A first paper will be devoted to strengthening clusters and innovation poles in Europe, a second on the promotion of innovation in technology-intensive services and a third on ways to stimulate innovation and research through public procurement. A fourth paper is expected to establish new guidelines concerning State aid for R&D and for the development of a venture capital market, while a fifth will be on tax incentives for innovative SMEs. A sixth paper will explore ways to strengthen collaboration between science and industry and promote the transfer of technology between public research bodies and industry. Finally, a seventh working paper will look at optimal and development-friendly regulatory frameworks for the leading sector in terms of advanced technology.
The ambitions of the Finnish Presidency and the Commission are very clear: a new innovation policy is placed at the heart of the Community agenda, with the essential aim of rapid implementation. With the energy strategy for Europe, innovation policy will be the main subject of the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government in Lahti on 20 October. Then, the adoption of formal conclusions on innovation by the European Council on 14 and 15 December should allow efforts made by the Finnish Presidency to be given concrete substance and for a sound base to be provided for the work of future EU Presidencies.