European Commission

European Commission
DGs
Education_culture
Valorisation
Dissemination and exploitation of results

Dissemination and exploitation
of results of our programmes

Conference-Exhibition
"Creativity and Innovation conference and exhibition
- Best practice from European Union programmes"

The Commission has organised a major European conference on creativity and innovation on 2 and 3 March 2009 in Brussels. The event explored and identified examples of best practice among projects that have received funding through several European Union programmes and funds. It was accompanied by a special exhibition showing the results of 20 star projects from around Europe that are good examples of the EU contribution, highlighted by the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009.

The conference examined creativity and innovation from different perspectives by presenting concrete examples of EU involvement in creativity and innovation. It also analysed the most appropriate ways to ensure that these examples will be followed and multiplied, making the European Year a catalyst to a long-lasting, enduring process.

The conference aimed to showcase good practices of projects which have been funded through the Socrates Programme (Comenius, Erasmus, Grundtvig, etc.), Leonardo da Vinci, Youth, Citizenship and Culture programmes, as well as from the Media programme, the Sixth Framework Programme (research) and the Structural Funds.

Examples of best practice were presented and discussed with key actors from the fields of education, training, entrepreneurship, culture, citizenship, youth, regional policy, etc. Discussion took place in plenary sessions and in workshops in order to encourage real exchange and provide a platform for dialogue between policy makers and project promoters.

An exhibition of 20 examples of best practice supported by the EU programmes was organised in parallel, as a source of inspiration for other projects to be developed during the Year and beyond. In total 35 projects were chosen, by a panel of 10 independent experts out of more than 100 proposals.

EVE The conference included the official launch of EVE, the electronic platform allowing beneficiaries of projects financed by the Directorate-General for Education and Culture to disseminate and exploit the results of their projects Europe wide.