EU: Focus on knowledge to boost economy

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Europe must be opened up even more to allow researchers to collaborate more easily on developing new technology, which could help boost an ailing economy.

This is according to Janez Potočnik, the European Commissioner for Science and Research, who made the comments in a speech to the British Chamber of Commerece.

“It has been said that the worst enemy of innovation is complacency. Before the crisis we had little room for complacency, today we have none,” he said yesterday. “So if we have to boost demand now, let's do it in the innovative markets of the future – clean energy, green products and services, broadband - and let's take care of the supply side too.”

As part of its recovery plan, the EU proposed three technology based public-private parternships, to develop green cars, energy-efficient buildings, and more innovative factories. “If we are to convert knowledge into real economic value and create 21st century jobs, we also need to strengthen the private sector's involvement in research,” he said.

He called on Europe to embrace “the freedom of movement of knowledge,” and to invest more in research and development. To do that, researchers must be able to work wherever necessary and patent laws must be better organised to cut costs for businesses.

Potočnik also called for the development of a European Research Area to let knowledge workers move across borders and to ease collaboration between research groups – be they businesses, universities or government agencies.

His speech echoed one earlier in the week by Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, who said: “First, especially in times of financial crisis, we must reinforce the investments in our future capacities to innovate and grow. Cuts in public and private R&D spending may be tempting but this could irreversibly damage our economies and the ability to recover.”

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