The European Union (EU) is now facing a range of challenges on its way to economic recovery. It will only be able to continue developing the high level of life opportunities, social security and economic well-being that many Europeans enjoy by further developing its capacity to innovate.
To do so, European innovation policy as well as the innovation strategies of many Member States, need to be re-examined. So far, these strategies have almost exclusively focussed on technological development and research expenditure. They should embrace the concepts of people-driven innovation and related soft skills, including the notion of creativity. The role that the arts, culture and the creative industries play in fostering a more creative and innovation-friendly society as well as a more competitive and sustainable economy should be more strongly reflected by EU innovation policy makers.
