Commission Agenda Entry: Friday, 20th January: Boosting European research and innovation: Hampton Court follow-up

Brussels, 13 Jan 2006

The news:

• The group established by the Commission after the Hampton Court Council to look at Europe's research and innovation challenges in the face of globalisation will present its report to the Commission.
• The Group is chaired by Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland, and a driving force behind the high levels of innovation and research in Finland. Other members of the group are Catalonian Minister of Industry Antoni Subira, Chairman of the Commission's Information Technology Advisory Group Jo Cornu and Professor Luke Georghiou of Manchester Business School.
• The report will give a brief diagnosis of the state of Europe in research and innovation and propose essential remedies. It will take a radical approach to the problem, arguing that existing efforts need to be complemented with a top down vision of what an Innovative Europe would look like, and a programme of necessary actions to achieve it that go well beyond the narrow issue of R&D expenditure.
• Detailed recommendations will cover a wide range of issues such as the supply of venture capital, public procurement, Structural Funds and European Technology Platforms.

The event:
Press conference at 1030 with Esko Aho, the Group's Chairman, and Commissioner Potocnik. Other members of the group will also be available to the press after the event.

The sources:

• Hampton Court Summit:

http://ue.eu.int/showPage.asp?id=965&lang=en&mode=g

Ø IP/05/1557

Ø MEMO/05/471

Ø IP/06/21

Ø MEMO/06/5

Ø IP/05/968

The contacts:
Antonia Mochan +32 2 296 9921; Marilyn Carruthers +32 2 299 9451

Item source: AGENDA/05/9 Previous Item Back to Titles Print Item