EU innovation needs paradigm shift, says commissioner[fr][de] 

Speaking to EurActiv at the Innovation Days conference, organised by Eureka  in Lisbon last week, Potocnik said the EU is "relatively strong in creating knowledge, in research itself, but when transferring this to products - I would not say we are weak or bad, but compared to those who are on top in this area - we could do better". 

He also argued that the EU's "overall innovation climate" needs to improve, but that such broad paradigm shifts take time. As part of the European Commission's efforts to bring about such changes, he highlighted the knowledge and innovation communities , the European Research Council  and the European Institute of Technology as tools which he fully believes will "change our reality". 

The research commissioner believes that the economic crisis presents Europe with an excellent opportunity to achieve "the things which we already knew we needed to do, but could not do before, because there was not enough political will or courage". 

In other words, the time is ripe to push for a political and economic landscape where EU innovation focuses on the future challenges of climate change, energy and future pandemics. 

The upcoming Swedish EU Presidency, which has pledged to promote sustainable development and green tech as part of its goal of "greening the economy," is an ideal occasion to push through these changes, according to Potocnik. 

In fact, moving towards innovation in these areas is the only option: "We don't have a lot of choice" other than to work towards Europe becoming a world leader in these fields, said the commissioner, adding that "the one who understands that reality fastest will also be the winner on the market, and this is the major market of opportunity". 

"I think that by the activity on the 2020 climate goals, proposed by the Commission and adopted by the Council, we have created the major lead market and we have to take that opportunity," he concluded.

To read the interview in full, please click here.