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# 51997IP0269

**Resolution on the Commission communication 'The First Action Plan for Innovation in Europe - Innovation for Growth and Employment' (COM(96)0589 C4-0624/96)** 
  
*Official Journal C 304 , 06/10/1997 P. 0080*

  

A4-0269/97

Resolution on the Commission communication 'The First Action Plan for Innovation in Europe - Innovation for Growth and Employment' (COM(96)0589 - C4-0624/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission's communication, COM(96)0589 - C4-0624/96,

- having regard to its resolution of 6 June 1996 on the Commission's Green Paper on Innovation ((OJ C 181, 24.6.1996, p. 35.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy and the opinions of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, and the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A4- 0269/97),

A. whereas innovation is needed to improve the competitive position of European industry and is fundamental to job creation and economic growth,

B. whereas innovation policy in Member States should be an integral part of the educational system,

C. whereas developments in information society are of particular relevance to all aspects of innovation,

D. whereas public resources can be more effectively deployed to bring together universities, research institutes, government agencies and industry to develop jointly long-term research programmes,

E. whereas neither legislation nor short-term measures will be of any real use in fostering a genuine innovation culture,

1. Welcomes the Commission's First Action Plan for Innovation in Europe but emphasizes that at its present form it must be considered as a first framework for continuing the discussion which started from the debate on the Green Paper on Innovation;

2. Notes that innovation should be understood in the widest sense of the term; points out that education and enhancement of skills through vocational training and retraining are essential prerequisites for any other investment in the field of innovation and that this is especially true in the area of information technology;

3. Takes the view that high environmental standards would generate innovation in new technologies highly beneficial to mankind;

4. Points out that there is no standard model for innovation policy which could be generalised; regions, companies, organisations and citizens must find their own paths to innovation; however, measures should be taken to ensure that new organisations or individuals involved in the field of innovation are given maximum assistance, perhaps through use of tax incentives, and that barriers to growth are kept to a minimum;

5. Welcomes the Commission's efforts to stimulate exchange of experiences on ways of promoting and propagating best practices and innovative performance of public administration in European institutions, government departments and authorities as well as organisations;

6. Welcomes the Commission' s efforts to improve and simplify the business environment for business start-ups;

7. Points out that enterprises which implement team work and quality systems and which, in general, are capable of adopting a flexible approach, are well suited to make the necessary changes to incorporate innovation, whether referring to production processes, work organisation or customer-oriented services;

8. Welcomes the Commission's efforts to set up a European benchmarking system for comparative evaluation amongst firms;

9. Emphasizes that proper financing after the initial creation process and under proper conditions may be decisive in determining success or failure of companies starting up; recognizes the important role of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund in creating employment through investment opportunities in Europe;

10. Stresses the need to intensify financing of innovation during the market penetration phase in which a prototype takes form of a final product; this type of financing should not involve hidden subsidies but it should be based on a sound risk analysis;

11. Takes the view that innovation funding at Community level could be enhanced by improved coordination between the services dealing with enterprise policy, research policy, education and regional development;

12. Notes with satisfaction the introduction of EASDAQ ( European Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation) for financing of high tech growth companies;

13. Calls on the Commission

- to give its actions an order of priority;

- to formulate concrete suggestions for innovation financing, including draft programmes for stock options, and to incorporate these suggestions in support for SMEs while taking account of the non-homogeneous nature of SMEs which requires the need for flexibility of approach and while encouraging SMEs themselves to have a greater input into formulating suggestions for the funding and development of innovation;

- to lay down rules on standards, trade marks and patents so that European products and services are compatible and interoperable at a European Union and global level;

- to define how the Community instruments such as the Framework Programme for Research and Development, regional and structural funds, social funds, education and training, coal and steel research, information services and international cooperation could be included in efforts at improving the innovation capacity of the EU;

- to encourage EU research to be more innovative in orientation;

- to develop the Community Framework R& TD projects in the light of experience gained with EUREKA projects;

- to encourage pilot projects aimed at the internationalization of SMEs;

14. Calls on the Member States

- to continue reviewing courses and teaching methods, above all for their ability to stimulate creativity and spirit of enterprise from the earliest age, and think about any changes which may be necessary to the training of teachers;

- to ensure that the links between the world of research and industry are improved by strengthening the capacity for dialogue between the two;

- to improve mobility of people between university and industry by creating the appropriate administrative framework;

- to consider more favourable tax treatment of investments in innovative projects or companies;

- to provide direct support for SMEs by strengthening the infrastructure for such businesses; to consider SMEs as a prerequisite for managing fast developments in technologies, changes in supplier-producer-customer chains and fluctuating market situations;

- to give the Commission more authority to manage the European Union's R& TD Framework projects enabling the Commission to redirect projects and initiate new projects when developments in basic research and new technologies makes this relevant;

- to help SMEs acquire more economic intelligence; a suitable framework for this type of action could be organised involving SMEs, local bodies such as Chambers of Commerce and Innovation Relay Centres;

15. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, and the governments of the Member States.

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