Four Commissioners from ‘Team Juncker’ join 6th European Innovation Summit

Commissioners Carlos Moedas (Research, Innovation & Science), Corina Cretu (Regional Policy), Phil Hogan (Agricultural and Rural Development) and Günther Oettinger (Digital Economy & Society) made their first public appearance in the European Parliament at the 6^th European Innovation Summit, organized by Knowledge4innovation.

‘A Mandate for Innovation in Europe’ – the topic of this year’s summit – summarized a common ambition of making innovation the top strategic priority in the new institutional cycle.

The continuing inability of Europe to successfully bring great ideas to the market remained the key issue raised by the summit participants. Better regulation, change in the educational system, risk acceptance and management were discussed as the key steps, necessary to move forward. A particular focus has been put on the importance of a strong engagement of the member states on the innovation front. There was a broad agreement on the need to clearly assess the potential impact EU legislation has on innovation across all sectors.

A prototype of an ‘ambulance’ drone - mobile ‘medical toolbox’, developed by a young student, was flying over the heads of commissioners and MEPs during the opening ceremony of the summit.

For more information, visit the website of Knowledge4innovation or send an email to [email protected].

Knowledge4Innovation is an open, independent, nonprofit platform with a wide variety of stakeholders including small and large companies, universities and research centers, regions and cities, trade organisations and think tanks. As such, it is the leading Brussels based innovation platform operating within the environment of the EU Institutions. K4I members are from the private, academic and public sectors and include large networks such as EUREKA, COST, Cefic, ECPA and EFPIA as well as universities, regional development organisations, cities, think tanks and small enterprises. Knowledge4Innovation forms a large network which brings together actors, with different backgrounds and expertise, with the common objective of making topics relevant to Europe’s innovation performance a top priority in EU policy making. At a time of major societal challenges and increasing global competition, Europe’s competitiveness increasingly depends on its ability to become the world’s leading innovation hub.

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