"The alarm sounded loud and clear last week, when Máire Geoghegan Quinn, the European commissioner for innovation, painted the latest picture of innovation in the EU.
The results of the European Innovation Scoreboard confirmed how much work lies ahead if we are to shorten the innovation gap. 'There is an innovation emergency in Europe,' the commissioner warned.
For years Europe has debated what seems to be an everlasting paradox: despite possessing young motivated talent and a research-oriented culture, the Old Continent is still getting to grips with how to become a true beacon for innovation.
For an association whose members struggle to bring their innovations to market every day, I'd dare say the fact that Europe lacks the right entrepreneurial environment is hardly news.
We must be prepared to meet today's 'innovation emergency' by providing better conditions for entrepreneurs and businesses seeking to develop and market new technologies and services.
Individuals, private industries and research-centric universities are the driving force behind the creation of innovation hubs such as Silicon Valley in the US and Cambridge in the UK.
Yet the European Union and member states also have to play their part.
EU policy should ensure that innovation is made possible in every sector. There are several initiatives which can provide a practical boost to companies aiming to bring innovative solutions, products and services into the market place, wherever that may be.
Cutting red tape, easing employment conditions and improving tax and education systems all play a role that is equally as important as enhancing investment in R&D.
A workable intellectual property protection system is also crucial to foster a sound environment for innovation. After decades of negotiations, and despite the EU's supposed single market, patents still need to be enforced and defended at national level, on a country-by-country basis.
After failing to reach an agreement on the creation of an EU patent last year it now seems that a brave group of eleven member states are willing to go ahead and put the system of enhanced cooperation to the test for the creation of a unitary patent system.
The advantages are plain and clear: entrepreneurs will benefit from lower costs and greater consistency in IP protection; allowing the return on investments and thus providing the right incentives to innovate. And while having eleven countries on board is better than having none, it clearly is not as good as 27…
But above and beyond the European patent, small innovative businesses need more from the Single Market in general. The lack of a truly functioning market in the field of data protection, public procurement and standardisation creates enormous challenges for businesses attempting to use emerging technologies to expand into new EU countries.
Turning innovation around is an emergency – but who will come to the rescue?"
