Education at the heart of EU innovation ‘manifesto’[fr][de] 

The eclectic group of inventors, scientists, artists and designers met in Brussels last week (19 June) and have produced a draft manifesto aimed at shaking up Europe's innovation policy.

The draft, which is being worked on by Denmark-based innovation researcher Professor Bengt-Åke Lundvall, will be published in the autumn, just as the finishing touches are being put on the successor to the Lisbon Agenda for Growth and Jobs. It is expected that innovation will be given greater emphasis in Lisbon II.

The creativity and innovation manifesto will have a strong focus on education, culture design and research. Erik Spiekermann, a professor and typography designer from Germany, will convert the final document into visual form (EurActiv 22/06/09).

"The idea is to make something really concise – about as short as the ten commandments – and then have a second level of action points. It needs to be a poster so people can quote it quickly, but it also needs to have depth," he said.

The manifesto will include action points for implementation, and Spiekermann insists that it has already had an influence on policymakers in Brussels.

"The impact we've had on the Commission can already be seen. You don't usually invite people into your house to criticise you. We're putting the cat amongst the pigeons here. But the Commission actually does want criticism. Maybe they are getting more than they bargained for," he said.

Spiekermann said dissemination of the manifesto beyond Brussels is essential if it is to leave a lasting legacy on innovation and creativity policy.