Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission presented the New European Innovation Agenda aimed at helping the EU to innovate more.
In a press release on Tuesday, the EC pointed out that the move will help the EU to invest in and develop new technologies and launch new start-up companies.
The body stressed that the agenda will help the EU to take the global lead as far as innovation goes, adding that this will require cooperation between top talent and leading companies.
“By leading on innovation, in particular on the new wave of deep-tech innovation requiring breakthrough R&D and large capital investment, Europe will reinforce its central role in shaping the green and digital transitions,” the EC noted.
The body added that the initiative will help to create innovative solutions to “pressing societal challenges such as climate change.”
It stated that the war in Ukraine gives greater urgency to these issues and prompted the body to implement policy changes with the aim of protecting security and prosperity of the bloc.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, stressed the importance of improving “our innovation ecosystems to develop human-centred technologies.”
Agenda to boost green push
She added that the EC’s new agenda will add to the green push and benefit digitalisation efforts as well as help the EU to wean itself off fossil fuels and secure its food supply.
Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, noted that the EC has consulted “women founders, women working in the capital venture, universities and businesses” with the aim of making the EU a “global powerhouse for deep-tech innovations and start-ups.”
The EC pointed out that the new agenda will help start-ups to access financing, improve the business climate, create “regional innovation valleys” and attract talent, among other.
It added that the move will increase support for women innovators and mobilise private investors, support creation of regional centres and interregional cooperation, and help EU member states to promote innovation.
The Commission reiterated that the war in Ukraine makes investing in innovation more urgent and reminded that it prepared mechanisms for supporting innovation in Ukraine.
It concluded that the EU plans to continue supporting innovation and stimulating cooperation between local, regional and national innovators in the bloc.
