The workshop in brief - PRO INNO Europe

The workshop in brief
Session 1: Setting the scene
This session moderated by Keith Sequeira (Unit Innovation Policy Development,
European Commission – DG Enterprise & Industry) outlined main concepts of
innovation culture and the importance of wider framework conditions and drivers for
innovation.
In her welcome address Ingrid van der Wacht (City of Eindhoven) emphasised the
importance to develop an open innovation culture - e.g. by linking design and
innovation - as well as to address and involve the public.
Reinhard Büscher (Unit Innovation Policy Development, European Commission –
DG Enterprise & Industry) gave an introduction into the objectives of the workshop
discussing societal framework conditions driving or hampering innovation. Innovation
culture is a key enabler but can also be a constraint of innovation. Discussing new
thoughts at European level contributes to further broaden the already broad-based
innovation strategy.
Ian Miles (INNO-Grips project, PREST, University of Manchester) summarised the
main findings of the INNO-Grips Ministudy on Innovation Culture. "Culture" is seen as
multidimensional construct. Though there is much uncertainty about how to measure
particular aspects of culture, and about which are most relevant to 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. Public attitudes towards science,
research, technologies, entrepreneurship and risk play an important role, beside
topics like creative cities and innovation culture of organisations. Culture in creative
cities is seen as attractor of creative workers. In this context, culture means “cultural
industries” and tolerance, openness as well as diversity. Evidence can be found that
organisational styles are associated with culture and trust as well as innovation level
and innovation type of organisations. Management styles influence strongly the
development of individual creativity and of creative environments.
Hugo Hollanders (UNU MERIT) and Funda Celikel Esser (JRC, EC) analysed the
link between socio-economic environment and innovation performance based on the
06.10.2008 Page 9 of 34 INNO-Views WS 04 Output final