[P] These plans form a coherent strategy to address the major issues at stake for innovation in enterprises: to develop knowledge by fostering research, to enhance entrepreneurial spirit in Europe for identifying business opportunities and finally to bring these and other elements (such as human capital, finance and innovation-friendly regulation) together to facilitate innovation in enterprises and to exploit market opportunities for innovative goods and services. [/P] [P] The aim of a new Innovation Action Plan will be to improve competitiveness, productivity, added value and growth. Also non-economic benefits will result from more innovation in Europe. Those positive externalities of innovation in enterprises are, for instance higher product safety, less pollution via more environmentally friendly production methods, the generation of more and better jobs, or the support for finding solutions to the problems of an ageing population, more efficient health care and consumer confidence.[/P] [P] [B] Scope and Approach [/B] [/P] [P] The Action Plan should address the main issues that currently hamper innovation in European enterprises. It will concentrate on key-issues relevant for the innovation process in enterprises, [B] placing the enterprise at the centre of innovation policy[/B]. Those key issues include the regulatory environment, the market in knowledge, and the financial and human resources which help or hinder innovation. [/P] [P] The scope of the Plan is broad:[/P] [P][UL][li]It emphasises the importance of [B]both technological and non-technological innovation[/B], including new business concepts, organisational or presentational innovation and the fostering and professionalisation of such innovation skills[/li].[/UL][/P] [P][UL] [li]It targets [B]all sectors[/B], including services and traditional sectors as well as high-tech. Innovation needs to become a feature of all enterprises, not only of a few. [/li] [/UL][/P] [P] [UL][li]It also takes account of the [B]all-embracing nature of innovation [/B] There needs to be efficient dialogue among all innovation stakeholders, policy-makers, regions, research, civil society and enterprises is efficient. Fostering a Europe-wide consensus on objectives and the building of Innovation Governance will help the interaction of policy and innovation actors.[/li][/UL][/P] [P][B] Objectives[/B][/P] [P] The Innovation Scoreboard, the Innovation Trend Chart, the Innobarometer and other specific studies on innovation policy and economic performance have pointed to regulation, knowledge and resources as the three main areas of shortcomings in the EU. [/P] [P] Regulation is essential in order to balance public concern against commercial opportunities. The challenge of finding the right balance in the field of genetically modified organisms shows how hard it can be, but also how important to get that balance right. [/P] [P] The push of knowledge creation and the pull of entrepreneurial demand for it come together in the market for knowledge. The protection and exploitation of intellectual property, technology transfer, clustering and networking of people and companies are instruments to stimulate cooperation and the exchange of ideas. [/P] [P] Innovation needs the right resources. Filling the gaps in the venture capital market, overcoming regional disadvantages, ensuring that the rules on state aid are clear and simple and that market deficiencies can be overcome would help ensure the availability of finance. Investing in skills and ensuring lifelong learning would help ensure the supply of human resources. [/P] [P] To achieve the following objectives, the different instances of government and various stakeholders must pull together:[/P] [UL] [li][B]Objective 1: Innovation everywhere: [/B]Promote innovation in all forms, technological or other. Improve innovation performance and competitiveness at enterprise level by disseminating excellence, learning from the best. Spread innovation in all sectors and in millions of SMEs and not only among a limited number of high-tech "happy few"[/li] [li] [B] Objective 2: Get innovation on the market: [/B] Improve the regulatory and administrative environment for innovation, in particular technical regulations, standards and competition rules. [/li] [li][B] Objective 3: Knowledge for innovation: [/B]Stimulate the dissemination and the absorption of knowledge (including technologies), in particular by improving the use and management of intellectual property, by encouraging the opening of innovation systems and clusters to new ideas, technologies and players and by enhancing the R&D Framework Programme's impact on innovation.[/li] [li] [B] Objective 4: Invest in innovation:[/B] Increase investment in innovation by exploiting the Community sources of finance (financial instruments, European Structural Funds) and by increased cooperation with the European Investment Bank. Ensure that state aid policy works to stimulate innovation.[/li] [LI] [B] Objective 5: Skills for innovation: [/B]Foster the development of innovation skills and creativity, while facilitating the mobility of knowledge workers. [/LI] [LI] [B] Objective 6: Efficient innovation governance [/B]: Mobilise Member States, regions, enterprises and other innovation actors. Promote and improve innovation governance [/LI] [/UL] [P] [B] These objectives should become common objectives for the EU and the Member States. Progress should be supported and monitored.[/B][/P] [P] [B] ACTION PLAN CONSULTATION [/B] [/P] [P] [B] Envisaged Actions [/B] [/P] [P] Please see the consultation paper on the action plan for details on the envisaged actions under each objective. [/P] [P][I](For technical reasons and contrary to previous indications, unfortunately no translation of the document should be available during the time of the consultation)[/I][/P] [P] [B] Questions for consultation [/B] [/P] [P]We would welcome your comments and suggestions using the format of the attached questionnaire. [/P] [P][I](For technical reasons and contrary to previous indications, unfortunately no translation of the document should be available during the time of the consultation)[/I][/P] [P] [B] Please feel free to reply to those questions which are relevant to you. There is no obligation to reply to all questions.[/P] [/B] [P]The invitation to comment is addressed to all stakeholders in the public and private sector, administrations, industry, services, finance, research, education and civil society. Comments are welcome from anyone with relevant experience or interest.[/P] [P]All comments received may be published on this web-site in the form they have been received and referenced in a table together with the name of the sender, unless you request explicitly that they remain anonymous, in which case they will not be published.[/P] [P]The Commission's services cannot reply to all comments individually.[/P] [P] [B] DRAFT EXTENDED IMPACT ASSESSMENT [/P] [/B] [P] [B] Why an impact assessment?[/P] [/B] [P] Impact assessment helps structure the process of policy making. It identifies and assesses the problem at stake and the objectives pursued. It identifies the main options for achieving the objective and analyses their likely impacts. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each option as well as synergies and trade-offs.[/P] [P] In application of the Communication COM 2002/276 on Impact Assessment, a draft extended impact assessment has been conducted, in particular to assess whether any action was needed in the filed of innovation, or if action should be delayed until a Green paper consultation be launched. The rationale behind any action envisaged is also discussed, thus helping the various stakeholders in their response to the above questionnaire.[/P] [P] [B] Questions on Impact assessment [/P] [/B] [P] Please find attached the draft report on Impact Assessment of the new Action Plan. [/P] [P] [B] Your comments and concrete proposals for amendments to this draft report will be much welcomed.[/B] [/P] [P] [B] Please send your contribution [/B] (questionnaire + comments on impact assessment) [B] by 31 May 2004 to:[/P] [P] European Commission [/P] [P] Enterprise Directorate-General [/P] [P] Innovation Policy [/P] [P] E-mail: entr-innovation-action-plan@ec.europa.eu [/P] [P] Fax: +32 2 296 04 28 [/B][/P].