Informal Seminar of EU Ministers for Industry and Research seeks to boost innovation

Brussels, 30 January 2002

The Spanish Presidency of the EU is organising the first ever joint meeting of EU Ministers for Industry and Research in an informal seminar to be held in S’Agaró (Girona) on 1 and 2 February.

The seminar will be an opportunity to swap experiences and to report on initiatives taken in the various countries to boost innovation and to integrate research and development (R&D) policies with industry policies.

It will be attended by the EU Ministers and Commissioners for Research and Industry, by important figures from science and industry and by representatives of the European Investment Bank.

It is hoped that the discussion generated in the seminar may lead to recommendations for the Barcelona Summit, which is due to take place in March.

The recommendations will be geared towards attaining the goal set by the Lisbon Council of making the European economy “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.” It is also hoped that progress will be made with designing and implementing a European Area of Research and Innovation.

Spanish Presidency Website http://www.eu2002.es