European Commission

Today’s launch of the European Commission’s Innovation Union programme on the initiative of my colleagues Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Antonio Tajani is a great step for Europe. Not only that – it’s a boost for the Digital Agenda too! Why? Because we are facing an “innovation emergency” and ICT innovation is key to lifting innovation across the EU.

For example, the Digital Agenda is all about new ways of working. Partnerships such as European Innovation partnerships (EIPs) help to get innovations into the hands of ordinary people and businesses as quickly as possible. They do this by concentrating our resources: bringing together innovators from both the public and private sectors, entrepreneurs, procurers and other interested parties. The partnerships are aimed at our grand challenges such as aspects of climate change, energy and food security, or supporting an ageing population.

The EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing is one where I am joining forces with my colleague John Dalli. It’s about bringing together the practitioners and recievers of care, along with the providers of solutions. In this area, with more than one billion euros between 2008 and 2013, the goal is a better a quality of life and seeing how ICT can be used to achieve this.

Examples that are working well include the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme  which brings together 23 countries to work on market oriented research (further information here), and a pilot called Renewing Health where nine regions of EU cooperate in tackling chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes.

Another example is seen in the i2home video featured here, where EU-funded research is helping to create the home of the future. This research is improving accessibility for elderly people and those living with a disability, through a common remote console. If we can help this sort of progress into a mass market, it will make a big difference to millions of lives. People who now miss out on basic products or are forced to use expensive, limited or unstylish products will instead get the same sorts of choices as everyone else.

The benefits of more innovation are great.  By investing in an Innovation Union we will be creating many thousands of high-paying jobs, improving the quality of life of millions, and reduce financial burdens on future generations.

Click here to read more about what the EU is doing on ageing and innovation
Click here to know more about the EU policy on public health and ageing
Click here to visit the i2home website

Me in Odense, Denmark learning about the AAL joint programme

Number of views: 1596

Tags: Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme, Antonio Tajani, EIP on Active and Healthy Ageing, European Commission Innovation Union, i2home, John Dalli, Maire GEOGHEGAN-Quinn, Neelie Kroes Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes innovation union, Renewing Health