The European Commission has recently published its comprehensive document crafted to accelerate collaborative innovation for regional sustainable economic development, the European Innovation Scoreboard. This framework serves as a valuable resource for incubators, accelerators, science and technology parks, and other innovation actors, providing practical tools and methodologies to foster innovation.
The framework explores the transformative role of innovation in economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes the importance of dynamic innovation ecosystems that bring together diverse actors, attract investment, develop skills, and support commercialization. A key focus of the document is the role of regional innovation ecosystems in addressing local challenges. These ecosystems ensure relevance and effectiveness by leveraging local resources, expertise, and networks.
Notably, the Scoreboard highlights that the EU’s innovation performance improved by 10% between 2017 and 2024. This progress is attributed to initiatives like the New European Innovation Agenda, which has been instrumental in enhancing the environment for startups and fostering cutting-edge technology development. However, the EU still trails behind global competitors, particularly the United States, in adopting digital technologies.
The report also identifies significant regional disparities within the EU, categorizing member states into four performance groups: Innovation Leaders, Strong Innovators, Moderate Innovators, and Emerging Innovators. For instance, countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands are recognized as Innovation Leaders due to their high innovation performance. In contrast, countries like Romania and Bulgaria are classified as Emerging Innovators, with performance significantly below the EU average.
Lastly, the Scoreboard document also promotes knowledge sharing and the development of efficient solutions, driving sustainable progress and impactful innovation aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It presents a comprehensive toolbox for governments, business support organizations, and industry leaders to build and strengthen local innovation ecosystems. This includes practical guidance on connecting stakeholders, enhancing service delivery, and recognizing excellence within the ecosystem.
To read the report, click here.
Source: INSME Secretariat
