The workshop in brief - PRO INNO Europe

Summary and conclusions
The workshop focused on innovation culture as a key enabler but also as a constraint
of innovation. There is wide agreement on the importance of culture for creativity and
innovation, for entrepreneurship and commercial exploitation of new ideas, as well as
for diffusion and application of new products and processes. “Culture” includes
among others societal framework conditions such as consumer preferences, ethical
issues, culture of co-operation, trust, organisational rigidities or lack of mobility of the
workforce. Topics such as public attitudes towards science and research, and views
about risk, regulation and authority fit also under the banner of culture.
Key drivers and barriers of innovation
Key drivers of innovation like mindset, character and attitudes have been identified.
Studies show the importance of attitudes towards risk and entrepreneurship,
curiosity, willingness to change etc., but also of socio-economic factors like social
capital (trust), technology flows or good governance.
Barriers hampering innovative processes include e.g. lack of collaboration, problems
arising from working across sectors and fields, (organisational) unwillingness to take
risks, lack of time and capital, employing and paying the right personnel or
bureaucratic obstacles. Fear of change and of losing face as well as professional
esteem in case of failure as well as reluctant attitudes towards new ideas and
methods play an important role.
To foster a positive attitude towards innovation, risk taking and entrepreneurship e.g.
by creating opportunities and awards is one key success factor for European
innovation performance. A positive innovation climate takes into account the needs of
entrepreneurs and reduces the risks for entrepreneurs by providing security in case
of failure (e.g. sabbaticals, part time appointments, spin outs, “intrepreneurs”) as well
as for investors e.g. by tax benefits or co-investment funds. Building of networks
between entrepreneurs helps entrepreneurs by providing structural and relational
social capital, exchanging experience and contacts, but may contribute also to
increase public awareness by events and entrepreneur contests.
Networks, and in particular multidisciplinary networks, help to generate innovative
processes, inspiration and success. In order to develop an effective process of
interactive knowledge production between education, business and research,
transdisciplinary groups and cross sector approaches combining different knowledge,
06.10.2008 Page 4 of 34 INNO-Views WS 04 Output final