Tien speerpunten ten behoeve van innovatie vastgesteld tijdens het Vilnius Innovation Forum

The participants of the first Vilnius Innovation Forum 2013 ‘Innovation Drift’ have agreed upon the declaration concluding 10 main principles for shaping European innovation policy.

The declaration emphasises the importance that Member States continue to increase investments in research and innovation. Europe will never be able to compete, and continue to be an attractive partner for research and innovation, unless our investments are at par with the most innovative countries around the world, the declaration states. European countries have to continue to put joint efforts in creating a common European Innovation Ecosystem. Investment, both public and private, in research and innovation fuels productivity and growth and is a key for job creation. The declaration will be delivered to the European Commission.

New programme Horizon 2020 is one of the most important financial instruments. Combined with other instruments of Innovation Union, such as Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME), it will contribute to the competitiveness and innovation and increase the international cooperation.

European innovation policy addresses the challenges, therefore open innovation, green and sustainable innovation and the reinforcement of pre-commercial procurement, as well as the procurement of innovative solutions, are all examples of important features of an innovation policy with a challenge approach.

The declaration encourages the promotion of clustering and SME networks as platforms for collaboration, growth and competitiveness as well the promotion of enterpreneurship, establishing innovative startup and spinoff companies. SME‘s as a future engine of economic growth and the principle sources of new employment therefore the declaration welcomes the efforts in supporting further internationalisation and growth of SMEs.

To bridge the gap between research and market needs in Europe it is important to help innovative enterprises to speed up the process from ideas to markets, to develop their technological breakthroughs into viable products and services and encourage commercialization of R&D.

The declaration underlines the importance of creativity, non-technological innovation and standards for industrial competitiveness and emphasizes the creation of cross synergies between the cultural and creative industries and the traditional industries.

More than 600 participants were gathered in the Vilnius Innovation Forum ‘Innovation Drift’, organised by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania and the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA). The discussions were supplemented by science and technology exhibition, and during the third day of the Forum, the participants visited the most innovative Lithuanian companies. More than 100 speakers from around the world gave dozens of presentations and more than 10 topics were discussed during the forum.

The Vilnius Innovation Forum ‘Innovation Drift’ was one of Lithuania's Presidency of the EU Council events. The forum was funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Informational Forum partners: LRT, Delfi, IQ and The Lithuania Tribune.

More information online at http://www.vif2013.com/ .