Innovating a way out

摘要

The importance of technological innovation as a tool for wealth development is indisputable. In fact, the 'Europe 2020' strategy is heavily based on 'smart growth' - a term referring to education, research and innovation (R&I), and information and communication technologies - as well as on the encouragement of scientific and academic excellence. This is directly connected to sustainable and inclusive growth, which should lead to increases in competitiveness and lower unemployment rates. The hard reality of the debt crisis, however, and the perception of R&I as a possible way out of it, forced EU countries to look seriously into protecting public R&I activities, attracting private funds and investing further in this direction.