Social innovation comes of age in Europe
“Social innovation is about new ideas that work to address pressing unmet society needs”
The shifts taking place in Europe
The competitiveness and challenges that Europe faces in the next ten years are significant. Innovation has been placed at the heart of Europe’s 2020 strategy.
It is this clear recognition that innovation is the best means of tackling issues that will affect our future living standards is not new in itself, but it is this real political recognition of its place and importance, now that is.
Innovation is also our best means of successfully tackling major societal challenges, such as climate change, energy and resource scarcity, health and aging and becoming more urgent each day to address in more systematic ways.
European funding of innovation in recent years has perhaps placed far too much emphasis on research and development to deliver the growth and jobs it requires.