OBS: Innovation is not the invention!

["Jacek Gancarson Eurofresh" <jacek.gancarson@eurofresh.se>]

It sounds like invitation to protection of business methods. That means in
long run patenting of market segments!

*******

Mr Erkki Liikanen

Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enterprise and the
Information Society

"A more innovative, entrepreneurial Europe"

Opening address at the XI Congress of Eurochambres

Rome, 9 October 2003

Innovation policy remains high on the Commission's agenda. We are suggesting
measures at the European level to help enterprises become more competitive
through innovation:


  a.. First, innovation takes many forms. There is technological innovation,
but also innovation through new business models and new ways of organising
work, innovation in design or in marketing. Innovation can consist in
finding new uses and new markets for existing products and services.

  b.. That leads to the second theme. We know that most enterprises are not
always innovative. They often replicate existing businesses. We need to
increase the percentage of entrepreneurs who innovate, and increase their
chances of success.

  c.. Policies need to encourage innovation, the creation and growth of
innovative enterprises. Policies also need to encourage the accumulation of
skills for management and staff to recognise market opportunities and
respond to them innovatively.

  d.. Thirdly, innovation policy is multidimensional and has to be
implemented through many different traditional policy areas. This requires a
coherent strategy and co-ordination across several government departments.