A lack of diffusion of ideas and technologies between different sectors and regions is feeding inequality across Europe, according to Carlos Moedas, EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.
He was speaking at a conference called Spreading Excellence and Crossing the Innovation Divide held in Brussels, Belgium, on 23 November, where he also announced a set of measures to improve EU research.
The aim of the conference, organised by the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU, was to gather ministers, policymakers and academics to discuss how to close the gaps in research and innovation between different countries, regions, research institutions, universities and enterprises.
Commissioner Moedas said that while certain sectors – such as ICT – are productive, innovative technologies and knowledge are not spreading beyond that sector, and while cities and regions that are home to successful companies are thriving, other regions were not benefitting from this.
‘We are trying to solve one of the major problems of innovation today, which is to solve the productivity gap so we have less inequality,’ he said. ‘Research and innovation is key to overcoming these gaps. We need to feed the pipeline of talent and ideas and help them diffuse far and wide.’
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Horizon Europe News – December 2023