Innovation Forum launched in capital city Vilnius

The first Vilnius Innovation Forum (Innovation Drift), organised by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania and the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) has been launched.

Minister of Economy Evaldas Gustas, addressing the participants of the Forum, said: “Europe is engaged in a global competition for knowledge, research and innovation. However, the EU intellectual and scientific potential does not always translate into new products and services that can be sold on markets. Therefore, we have to look for new scientific results and innovation-based opportunities. In preparation for the new funding period 2014-2020, it is important to pay attention to the whole innovation cycle and to strengthen one of the main phases – activities of experimental development, carried out in businesses, educational and research institutions.”

According to Gustas, improving access to finance and skills as well as focusing on the policies promoting clustering and networks can create an environment where European enterprises flourish, further contributing to growth and jobs.

The inventor of the World Wide Web sir Tim John Berners-Lee, the key speaker of the forum, said that the open platform is really important. That is the key to all the innovation that happens on the internet. It is also very important for the democracy.

The Minister of Economy says, that ‘the main current European Union’s innovation policy is the Innovation Union, Europe 2020 flagship initiative’. EU Innovation Union strategy sets out the strategic approach to innovation, which aims at promoting the activities of research and innovation in Europe, seeking for quicker ways of promising ideas and discoveries to the market.

The forum seeks to launch a high level debate on innovation, scientific research and their impact on Europe’s future and competitiveness in the capital of Lithuania.