The activities of the Innovation Panels
The Innovation Panels aim to organize five sets of roundtable discussions centring on the specific sectors or fields being analysed by Sectoral Innovation Watch and which are important for the pattern of European innovation.
The 8 selected areas are: aerospace, automotive, ICT, biotechnology, eco-innovation, energy, textile and gazelles (High Growth SMEs).
Each panel will have a maximum of ten members including the chairman. The panels will meet five times during the next two years. The panel chairman will coordinate discussions based on prepared agendas which will include topics that will be a combination of the results of Sectoral Innovation Watch and other 'hot' innovation policy issues. Panel members may rotate depending on the topics to be discussed and the expertise required. The first panel meeting will set the scene, discuss priority issues and identify next steps. Panel meetings will be one day events.
Expected results:
Panels are expected to have a dual impact. Firstly, they will influence the directions and use of Sectoral Innovation Watch by identifying policy priorities for work; secondly, they will produce structured policy reports (one report for each panel meeting) that will be used as a basis for policy shaping under the new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework programme. Panel members will act as missionaries to spread resulting ideas.
The panel meetings
The first Sectoral Innovation panel meetings will take place in Brussels on the following dates:
|
Textile, Gazelles Panels on: |
March 29, 2006 |
|
ICT and Automobile Panels on: |
March 30, 2006 |
|
Energy and Eco-Innovation Panels on: |
April 4, 2006 |
|
Aerospace and Biotechnology Panels on: |
April 5, 2006 |