“Europe is the global leader when it comes to green growth.” That is neither a vision, nor a goal for 2050 – it’s the Green Growth Index 2020’s finding.
In all four categories – resource consumption, social inclusion, green economic opportunities, and natural capital protection – the index certifies Europe as leading the way.
This validates the legitimacy of the European Green Deal as an economic growth program. In Europe, we have an abundance of utterly needed innovations and technological expertise, and investment programs will also now provide the funding needed to share and leverage on both innovation and expertise. For example, the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) are already supporting new value chains in Europe in the battery, microtechnology, and hydrogen sectors.
One thing we’ve learned from the pandemic is how important it is to build European alliances between its different regions. Forming networks between the different ecosystems – in terms of innovation, economic collaboration, the joint development of suitable framework conditions, and the strengthening of synergies – will help raise potential investments, innovation capabilities, and growth opportunities in what is still the world’s largest market: the European single market.
Launched in January 2021, Horizon Europe, the European research and innovation framework program, provides an important vehicle for industry and society as a whole to support such alliances in all kinds of areas. Public procurement on European level can also support innovation-driven companies in gaining access to new markets with their new products and services. Among other things, the European Innovation Council (EIC) is working on forging closer links between innovation ecosystems and making better use of public procurement.
With our experience and top performance in innovation we should get ready to support the development of European ecosystems, which are not yet that successful in generating innovation in their industry. Therefore, if Europe wants to stay ahead and in the top range of Green Growth, we need to join forces among all European Innovation Ecosystems.
This latest edition of TRANSFER Magazine highlights the potential challenges posed by future ecosystems and explores possible ways to make it a reality. Let’s work on this together!
With kind regards
Petra Püchner
Contact
Dr.-Ing. Petra Püchner (author)
Since 2018, Dr.-Ing. Petra Püchner has been the Commissioner for Europe of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Housing. Her focus in this role lies in bolstering the innovative power of the economy in Baden-Wuerttemberg and making the most of European research and innovation capacity and initiatives. As head of the Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum, she has been contributing to the Steinbeis Network with her expertise and experience in European cooperation for many years.
Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum (Stuttgart)
www.steinbeis.de/su/2016 | www.steinbeis-europa.de