The European Union is closing the innovation gap with the United States, according to the European Commission 2006 scoreboard.
The report says that despite the fact that a majority of European Union member states are still lagging behind the United States in terms of innovation performance, the gap is closing, and this because of the fast growth in the innovative activities in member states.
The report also says the Nordic states of the European Union: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, as well as Germany and Switzerland, are best in promoting research and innovation.
The main progress, according to the 2006 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), is because of the growing number of science and engineer graduates and a greater use of trademarks and designs, as well as the increased employment in medium and high tech industries.
The European Union is catching up with the United States and Japan as they steadily are increasing grants for research, and making it easier for start up companies to do business while also boosting intellectual property and patent rights.
Main areas where the Europeans are still under performing are investment in ICT and spending on research and development.
Broadband penetration rates in the European Union remain well below those of the United States and Japan and business investments in R&D stand at just 1.2 percent of GDP in the European Union, compared with 1.9 percent in the United States and 2.4 percent in Japan.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
The report says that despite the fact that a majority of European Union member states are still lagging behind the United States in terms of innovation performance, the gap is closing, and this because of the fast growth in the innovative activities in member states.
The report also says the Nordic states of the European Union: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, as well as Germany and Switzerland, are best in promoting research and innovation.
The main progress, according to the 2006 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), is because of the growing number of science and engineer graduates and a greater use of trademarks and designs, as well as the increased employment in medium and high tech industries.
The European Union is catching up with the United States and Japan as they steadily are increasing grants for research, and making it easier for start up companies to do business while also boosting intellectual property and patent rights.
Main areas where the Europeans are still under performing are investment in ICT and spending on research and development.
Broadband penetration rates in the European Union remain well below those of the United States and Japan and business investments in R&D stand at just 1.2 percent of GDP in the European Union, compared with 1.9 percent in the United States and 2.4 percent in Japan.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report