Brussels, 22/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - The 5th Brussels Debate “Innovation Policy: time to step on the gas”, was held on Tuesday 22 September as part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009. The aim was to consider how innovation can help enterprise to emerge from the current recession stronger and how it can allow the European Union to address global challenges. In the context of a more ambitious European innovation policy, the Commission has adopted an initiative in favour of SMEs based on partnership (the Small Business Act). This is already bearing fruit. The innovation gap between the EU and its key competitors, the US and Japan, has narrowed. At the same time, as new competitors are emerging and challenges are getting bigger, Europe must not only sustain its innovation performance, but also improve it. Stepping up innovation and innovation capacity is the key to long term sustainable growth and social progress in the European Union. The renewed Lisbon partnership for growth and employment places focus on innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit, and calls on the Community and member states to act in a more resolute and more coherent manner to foster these qualities, the European Commission states. (I.L./transl.jl)