Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union
Opinion factsheet
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- Enterprise and Industry
- Research and intellectual property
Opinion number:
CDR-0373-2010
Status:
Adopted
Objective
Contribute to the debate launched by the Innovation Union flagship initiative and achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy.
Impact
The opinion on "Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative - Innovation Union (research and innovation plan)" contributed to the debate launched by the Innovation Union flagship initiative and to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy.
Several key elements of the opinion are included and highlighted in the European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2011 on "Innovation Union: transforming Europe for a post-crisis world" (P7_TA(2011)0236), such as:
• the importance of strengthening the cross-border dimension of innovation;
• the essential role played by local and regional authorities in this area ("The region, an important partner: [the EP ] underlines that the full engagement of the regional and local authorities is crucial to achieving the goals of the Innovation Union, as they have an important role in bringing together businesses, knowledge institutions, public authorities and the citizens in the diamond 4 standard thus serving as an intermediary between these various actors, the Member States and the EU"; "[The EP] supports the proposal of the Committee of the Regions for the creation of a "virtual creativity network" that would be open to all (businesses, local and regional authorities, central public authorities, the private sector and citizens) and would provide advice, assistance and access to venture capital and technical services; stresses that a virtual network offers the additional advantage of giving the inhabitants of islands, outlying regions, rural areas, mountain areas and sparsely populated areas easier access to expert advice, education and information, business support and financial guidance").
In December 2011, the CoR rapporteur for the Horizon 2020 programme was invited by the European Commission to take part in the high level Group concerning the smart specialisation platform.
Several key elements of the opinion are included and highlighted in the European Parliament resolution of 12 May 2011 on "Innovation Union: transforming Europe for a post-crisis world" (P7_TA(2011)0236), such as:
• the importance of strengthening the cross-border dimension of innovation;
• the essential role played by local and regional authorities in this area ("The region, an important partner: [the EP ] underlines that the full engagement of the regional and local authorities is crucial to achieving the goals of the Innovation Union, as they have an important role in bringing together businesses, knowledge institutions, public authorities and the citizens in the diamond 4 standard thus serving as an intermediary between these various actors, the Member States and the EU"; "[The EP] supports the proposal of the Committee of the Regions for the creation of a "virtual creativity network" that would be open to all (businesses, local and regional authorities, central public authorities, the private sector and citizens) and would provide advice, assistance and access to venture capital and technical services; stresses that a virtual network offers the additional advantage of giving the inhabitants of islands, outlying regions, rural areas, mountain areas and sparsely populated areas easier access to expert advice, education and information, business support and financial guidance").
In December 2011, the CoR rapporteur for the Horizon 2020 programme was invited by the European Commission to take part in the high level Group concerning the smart specialisation platform.
Essential points
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- reiterates its support for reaching targets on competitiveness and innovation by 2020 and recognises that in order to achieve these targets, continued investment in education and training needs to be maintained;
- recognises the importance of balancing technological, social and public sector innovation;
- recalls that it is absolutely vital for all jobs skills to be upgraded and matched to labour market requirements;
- underscores the role which university partnerships must play in bringing research results to the market through integration of higher education, research and business; notes in this regard the importance of a supportive local and regional environment;
- appreciates the key role of research infrastructures in knowledge-based innovation systems; welcomes in this respect the new concept of Regional Partner Facilities;
- draws attention to: the potential of cross-border cooperation, including inward investment to and outward investment from the EU;
- reiterates that, in order to take full advantage of the leverage effect of the Structural Funds, the regions and Member States be rigorous in establishing adequate coherence between local and regional strategies, National Reform Plans, National Strategic Reference Frameworks and Operational Programmes implemented under European cohesion policy, in keeping with the European common strategic framework for research and smart regional specialisation strategies.