The European Union wants to create an innovation-friendly environment by 2020 that makes it easier for great ideas to be turned into products and services, bringing the economy growth and jobs.
But Europe is flagging in its innovation strategy, according to EU statistics that show the US and Asia leading the way.
So how is Europe trying to catch up? EURACTIV reports from the InnovEIT 2016 conference hosted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology in Budapest.
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Ex-DARPA chief: ‘Innovation with no goals is not efficient’
Ken Gabriel has dedicated his life to innovation and entrepreneurship at Google, and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). For Gabriel innovation boils down to “satisfying an unmet need”.
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EIT boss: ‘There is a new focus on measuring results’
The European Institute of Technology has come under heavy criticism from EU auditors, who flagged a “lack of tangible results” in a recent report. But most issues have now largely been addressed, assures Martin Kern, who promises a new focus on results.
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‘European MIT’ will look for innovators in food, industry and urban mobility
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology is opening a “new chapter” to overcome some of its early mistakes, and plans to expand by adding food, the digitalisation of industry and urban mobility to its priority areas.
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Commission backs data sharing ‘by default’ to spur innovation
The European Commission's upcoming data initiative will establish open data as the paradigm "by default", while allowing opt-outs only in restricted cases for commercial purposes, Commissioner Carlos Moedas told EURACTIV.com.
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Navracsics: EIT must be ‘more visible, more transparent and more compact’
The beginnings of the European Institute of Technology (EIT), created in 2008, were “probably a little bit slow and complicated,” admits Tibor Navracsics, the Commissioner overseeing the EU’s flagship innovation agency. But things should be back on track soon, he told EURACTIV.
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Audit shines light on EU’s attempt to mimic America’s celebrated MIT
The Court of Auditors has issued a humbling review of the European Institute of Technology, tainting the legacy of José Manuel Barroso, the former President of the European Commission who spearheaded what was initially intended a showcase EU project.