The European Union’s push for competitiveness is at a critical juncture. Of particular importance is the need for a European innovation culture, which universities, with their fundamental, curiosity-driven science base, are essential to building.

As the first major piece of EU legislation solely dedicated to innovation, the European Innovation Act is an opportunity to acknowledge universities' needs and challenges, not just those of industry or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In order for the Act to achieve its full potential as a centrepiece of the broad nexus of EU initiatives on innovation, it should focus on:

  • Fostering a shared innovation culture
  • Providing clarity and guidance on intellectual property
  • Fully leveraging the results of EU-funded research
  • Supporting professional know-how and entrepreneurial skills
  • Enabling local and international collaboration

EUA looks forward to a European Innovation Act which takes this message on board by recognising the deep interconnection between startups, scaleups, innovative SMEs and university research and innovation, as well as by weaving this link into all relevant EU initiatives.

A European Innovation Act that builds a truly European innovation culture

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