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European Innovation Council: EUA’s response to call for ideas
EUA published its response to the European Commission (EC) call for ideas on “Designing a European Innovation Council” on 29 April 2016.
In order to answer the call, launched in February 2016, EUA held a consultation with its university members and its Research Policy Working Group. After analysing the results, EUA stresses in its response that the main mission of a European Innovation Council (EIC) should be the enhancement of Europe’s competitiveness and the creation of jobs for the benefit of society. EUA also stresses that an EIC should take into account the strong relation between investment in research-based innovation, investment in the development of highly-skilled workers and the resulting economic and social innovation.
EUA’s main views and recommendations for an EIC are:
- An EIC would be most useful as an advisory and coordinating body, integrating all European Commission policies on innovation, and streamlining existing instruments.
- An EIC should consider all forms of innovation and take a strategic role in advising on European innovation ecosystems. It should also promote excellent, research-based innovation for the benefit of society.
- An EIC should not be designed as a funding body. At a time of low public research investment in Europe, it is essential that existing funding allocated to research is preserved.
- An EIC should involve all relevant stakeholders and have transparent, swift consultations and decision-making processes. It should complement other EU bodies, avoiding overlap.
- An EIC could contribute to reinforcing links between education and training, investment in basic research and in innovation. It should also build on existing good practices.
EUA’s response outlines the rationale behind these views and recommendations giving special attention also to the concept of innovation from a university perspective.
To read EUA’s full response to the EC call for ideas on “Designing a European Innovation Council”, please click here.
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