European Innovation Forum

From technological to social innovations
Innovation policy is a key priority of the Finnish Presidency of the European Union. As of 1st July for the period of 6 months we can expect to hear a great deal about research and innovation. Finland intends to promote the development of a broad-based innovation policy, largely on the basis of the recommendations outlined in the so-called Aho Innovation Report, published in January 2006, which has been elaborated upon in the recently published Commission Innovation Communication.

European ICT innovation is more widespread than ever. In such a competitive European market we have to develop the needed enabling environment, such as more effective and supportive laws on intellectual property rights, in particular patents, to convert innovation into tangible commodities that can be marketed throughout Europe.

It is clear that many companies are either unaware of the benefits of patents and the role they play in innovation, or lack the necessary legal skills or funds to negotiate the complicated European patent system. Supporting companies in protecting of their innovations and recovering their R&D investment is vital when considering the intensity of global ICT competition that threatens to leave Europe in its dust.

CompTIA is promoting innovation and technological development throughout the European Union (www.comptia.eu). Several “Innovation” conferences have been, and will be, held in a number of Member States in 2005-2007.

This year’s series of “Innovation Forum” meetings, in Warsaw, in Copenhagen, and in autumn in Prague, seek to explain some of the mechanisms for bringing digital innovations to the market and some of the advantages of related IP protection for intangible assets.

The website of the European Innovation Forum will keep you briefed about these developments and will link up with related matters in Europe and beyond.