EU Committee task force – Innovation
List of past and upcoming task force events (click icon) - last updated November 2011 
Max von Olenhusen – Novartis (chair)
Tim Edgar - Porter Novelli (vice-chair)
The Innovation task force was created in 2011 as a neutral platform for British Chamber members to exchange views with representatives of the European institutions on fostering and promoting innovation in the EU.
Innovative products and services have reshaped our lives fundamentally over the last 20 years and will continue to do so. Inventions such as the mobile phone, web 2.0, commercial use of GPS systems have changed our daily lives. New superconductive materials are changing the manufacturing sector; new chemicals are providing new growth paths in agriculture. Breakthrough medications against cancer, malaria or new vaccines have increased overall life expectancy. Incremental innovation has changed HIV from a death sentence into chronic disease.
Our key areas of focus are the main drivers and bottlenecks for innovation in the EU, both on the supply-side demand side:
- How to create more incentives for private investments in R&D and to foster higher public investments in R&D;
- The EU Community Patent;
- Innovation as a key parameter for public procurement;
- 7th and 8th European Research Framework Programme;
- Thematic Innovation Partnerships between public and private stakeholders, such as the platform on European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing;
- The Lead Market Initiative to ease market access for innovative products in six key sectors;
- The European Enterprise Network to increase competitiveness;
- Joint Technology Initiatives public-private partnerships to invest in key areas of R&D;
- Completion of the European Research Area to enhance the regulatory framework for research;
- ICT for innovation;
- Available funding and support for innovative start-ups and SMEs.
If your company has an interest in fostering innovation or showcasing its new innovative products, join us in the Innovation task force.
The current task forces are:
back to the EU committee page
|