The countries and people of Europe today face global changes that pose major challenges to their economies and societies, as well as to the environment. The need for research and innovation has never been greater. The Swedish Government, as part of its Presidency of the EU, has therefore invited prominent researchers, politicians, entrepreneurs and officials to discuss the future role of research and innovation in Europe. The conference, entitled New Worlds – New Solutions – Research and Innovation as a Basis for Developing Europe in a Global Context, took place in Lund on 7–8 July 2009.
The purpose of the Conference was to deliver a final declaration, as an input to the Swedish Presidency, on which to base the development of the European Research Area and the forthcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.The overall theme of the conference was the role of research and innovation systems in the development of Europe up to 2025. The conference had about 350 participants.
The Lund Declaration, a result of the discussions during spring, not least from four preparatory workshops, was handed over to the Swedish Minister for Higher Education and Research, Tobias Krantz.
The declaration calls upon decision-makers to abandon thematic, bureaucratic and organizational rigidities and instead focus efforts and resources in cross-cutting and policy-integrating approaches to addressing the grand challenges facing the world today.
"The Lund Declaration" now calls on the actors to identify more clearly the major challenges facing the world, areas where there is an urgent need for more research and innovation
Download "The Lund Declaration"
Busniess shocks - as opportunity
The second day of the Conference, 8 July, four separate sessions were held. One of these was arranged by VINNOVA and had the title:
”Business shocks – as opportunity”
- How can a future ERA support and stimulate research, innovation and sustainable economic growth in Europe?
Programme 8 July:
09:00 Introduction
Prof. Göran Marklund, Acting Deputy Director General VINNOVA Presentation
09:15 Session 1: Globalization of ERA
What are the consequences of the rapid globalization for ERA?
How do we a strike a proper balance between strategies and measures at the member state level and at the EU level with regards to internationalization efforts?
Introductions:
Dr. Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Lund University/VINNOVA
Dr. Erik Arnold, Technopolis Presentation
Session chair:
Dr. Sylvia Schwaag Serger, Lund University/VINNOVA Presentation
Panel:
Dr. Sigi Gruber, DG Research, ec
Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, Head of the Israeli National Economic Council
10:15 Coffee Break
10:45 Session 2: Strengthening the Industrial Perspective in ERA
How do we increase industry participation and influence in publicly funded research?
What kind of measures do we need to facilitate a more rewarding industry-academia interaction?
Introduction:
Prof. Dr Luc Soete, UNU-MERIT, Univ. of Maastricht Presentation
Session chair:
Prof. Göran Marklund, Deputy Director General (Acting) VINNOVA
Panel:
Dr. Carlos Härtel, GE Electric
Dr. Allyson Reed, Technology Strategy Board
Dr. Anna Lönnroth, DG Research, ec
Dr. Keith Sequeira, DG Enterprise, ec
12:00 Lunch
13:30 Session 3: Horizontal Innovation Policy
How can different (DG) policies on the European level, as well as, policies designed by different ministries on a national level, be targeted towards innovation?
Introductions:
State Secretary Prof. Dr. Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, BMBF Presentation
Prof. Susana Borrás, Copenhagen Business School Presentation
Session Chair:
Dr. Michael Stampfer, Managing Director, Vienna Science and Technology Fund, Austria
Panel:
Mr. Constantin Christofidis, European Investment Bank
Dr. Jan van den Biesen, Philips Research
Prof. Maureen McKelvey, Gothenburg University
Dr. Daria Tataj, European Institute of Technology
Pre-conference workshop: Business shocks - as opportunity
Before the Conference several workshops were held. One of these took place in Berlin 17 March 2009 under the same headline as the VINNOVA arranged session on 8 July, namely “Business shocks – as opportunity”. Download the documentation from the Berlin workshop .
