Gierek Report/REGI Suggestions
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection PROVISIONAL
2006/2274(INI) 9.2.2007
DRAFT OPINION of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy on putting knowledge into practice: a broad-based innovation strategy for Europe (2006/2274(INI))
Draftswoman: Barbara Weiler
SUGGESTIONS
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:
A. whereas the conventional approach to driving innovation, combining "technological-push" and "demand-pull", is not in itself sufficient and requires the simultaneous promotion of favourable market conditions to create a regulatory environment that is conducive to innovation,
B. whereas a well-functioning Internal Market, supported by the new Services Directive, creates a favourable environment for innovation through increased competition in a larger and more stable economic area, attracting greater investment and encouraging the mobility of workers,
C. whereas both the transfer of academic results, particularly to SMEs, and the availability of research results, especially for innovations with a social dimension, should be emphasised, and whereas the geographical concentration of innovation platforms should be addressed so as to make use of the skills and diversity found in different EU regions,
1. Is of the firm opinion that better regulation, in particular lightening the unnecessary regulatory burdens on SMEs, will encourage favourable market conditions and help boost the development of "lead" markets based on creative innovations, techniques, technologies and products, and that better regulation will also raise consumer trust and confidence;
2. Welcomes the European Commission's intention to publish guidelines for making the most effective use of the consolidated legal framework in public procurement, which not only promotes competition but renders the rules more flexible, thereby encouraging the uptake of innovative solutions and creativity;
3. Calls on the European Commission to promote exchanges of best practices and promote the identification and exchange of lessons learnt from improper practices, in order especially to help foster innovation in EU regions;
4. Stresses that efforts should be focused on facilitating the transfer of research results into marketable products particularly for SMEs (while taking care not to stifle fundamental research), and believes there is a need for a more holistic approach balancing closer cooperation between the research and business sectors with the interests of consumers, civil society and the environment;
5. Strongly encourages initiatives which improve professional or social inclusion by promoting innovations with social applications, namely innovations addressing gender equality, consumer health and safety, mobility issues and the needs of the elderly (a growing population group with high purchasing power) by drawing on their lifelong experience in solving problems;
6. Is of the opinion that there should be wider consideration of useful innovative solutions specific to the services industry, and believes that the continued removal of barriers to the movement of products and services will stimulate innovation.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/recherche/NoticeDetaillee.cfm?docid=216428&doclang=EN
