Innovation
Valencia mayor: We are ready to become testing ground for innovation in Europe
Est. 6minValencia is one of the dozen finalists in the race to become the 2020 European Capital of Innovation. In an interview with EURACTIV, its mayor, Joan Ribó, defended their mission-oriented proposal to overcome the biggest challenges of our period, bringing on board political parties, the civil society and the scientific community.
ERC president: Brains should become main resource of Europe
Est. 12minInstead of funding 'business as usual'-research, the need to take a long-term perspective is crucial for innovative solutions, but that is often difficult to accept for policymakers, the head of a top European research agency told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Investment in ‘first class connectivity infrastructure’ a priority, Commission says
Est. 10minThe cable industry's ambitions of ubiquitous gigabit connectivity have long been hindered by a number of obstacles, including patchy coverage and consumer trust issues. Carlota Reyners Fontana explains what the EU Commission is doing to improve the bloc's broadband gaps.
‘No alternative’ to digital construction, expert says
Est. 8minThe digitisation of the EU's construction industry is an oft-overlooked area of technological development, both politically and socially. EURACTIV.com spoke to Milena Feustel to shine a light on the sector and explore the direction the digital construction is going in across Europe.
Katainen: Innovation needed to address climate issues
Est. 6minDuring a week in which the European Commission hosts the 2019 EU Industry Days, a series of conferences that examine key industrial challenges, EURACTIV sat down with Vice-President Jyrki Katainen to find out how far the EU's industries have come since 2014.
Polish mayor: ‘The future belongs to cities’
Est. 7minThe city of Wrocław is one of Poland’s success stories, where job creation has hit record highs and environmental objectives are taken seriously. Wrocław’s long-serving mayor revealed his city’s future-leaning path and the advantages of being part of a Europe-wide network of mayors.
Stockholm mayor: Cohesion policy is strongest form of EU solidarity
Est. 8minStockholm produces more billion dollar companies than any other place outside Silicon Valley and the European Commission recently proclaimed it Europe's most innovative region. Mayor Karin Wanngård explained how her city hangs onto its talent and why it is such a popular breeding ground for 'unicorns'.
EU cybersecurity chief: Now is the time to discuss liability
Est. 11minThere needs to be more discussion about liability for cybersecurity attacks, Steve Purser, director of operators at the EU cybersecurity agency ENISA, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Bütikofer: ‘The priority to support additive manufacturing is financing research’
Est. 4minReinhard Bütikofer is one of the most authoritative voices in the European Parliament on 3D printing. In his view, Europe will have to struggle over the next decade to be a leader in industry, and will get there only if it turns research efforts into innovative results.
Anti-monopolies economist: ‘Innovation breeds inequality’
Est. 5minInequality is an inevitable side effect of innovation and many monopolies could be broken by simply eliminating patents, insists Italian economist Michele Boldrin. EURACTIV’s partner El País – Planeta Futuro reports.
GEOX founder: ‘Invest more in education, that’s the real problem’
Est. 5minMario Moretti Polegato is one of Italy's most successful businessmen. Despite the EU institutions' constant talk about smart growth, he believes Europe has a lot to do to catch up with the US.
Darknet guru: New technology can help build European identity
Est. 12minModern technology could shore up the European project, boost transparency and help governments collect taxes. Author Jamie Bartlett told EURACTIV.com that the EU should become the great technological innovator but warned that politicians simply aren’t prepared for massive changes ahead.
Tata CEO: Europe should unleash the Jugaad mindset
Est. 8minTo manage change and transform economies, affluent countries need to experiment fast and roll out new models that enable them to grow in a more innovative way, Amit Bajaj told EURACTIV.com in an interview, stressing the need for social innovation.
Planet discoverer calls for ‘strong promotion’ of EU research
Est. 9minThe researcher behind Trappist-1, a system of planets that could contain life, and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas talked to EURACTIV.com about the importance of EU support. They also played down a PR war with NASA that erupted when the discovery was first made public.
Czech MEP: Europe needs harmonised standards for smart cities
Est. 9minAccording to Dita Charanzová, smart cities are about bettering the lives of Europe's citizens. They'll not only improve urban life but the environment too, she told Euractiv.com
Civic tech guru: Trump, Breitbart and populism are ‘the new normal’
Est. 14minThe election of Donald Trump in the United States, helped by the far-right opinion news site Breitbart, is not a one-off event, says Victor Fleurot, a communication expert and self-proclaimed "visual activist", in an interview with Euractiv.com.
Deloitte innovation chief: ‘Schools train us to become machines’
Est. 7minJohn Hagel III is an enthusiastic supporter of the opportunities that innovation and technology can bring. However, the digital transformation of the economy and society is going to be “challenging and stressful for most people", Hagel told EURACTIV.com
Aviation exec: Research in electric aircraft ‘developing very rapidly’
Est. 8minIndustry interest in electric propulsion for aircraft is growing fast but the first hybrid-electric jetliner is “at least a decade away”, according to one aviation R&D executive.
Moedas: ‘Countries that increased spending in R+D better weathered the crisis’
Est. 6minInnovation was a top priority for the world's most powerful nations at the G20 meeting last September, in Hangzhou. However, Europe still has some “negative trends” to address, says Commissioner Carlos Moedas.
Robert Madelin: ‘We have to assume the hardest possible Brexit’
Est. 21minThe EU treaty mentions a two-year deadline for a member state to conclude negotiations to leave the European Union. But it also foresees possible extensions, opening the way for a follow-on process, says Robert Madelin, who just left the EU executive.
MEP: ‘My main concern is that humans are not dominated by robots’
Est. 7minMady Delvaux, a Socialist MEP from Luxembourg, has been tasked with drafting the first regulatory proposal worldwide to address the rise of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
Innovate UK boss: ‘Innovation is always a conversation’
Est. 10minGovernments can play a role in innovation by formulating problems and linking people up so that innovators can come up with solutions, says Richard Miller.
Universal basic income paid by a ‘robot tax’ is a bad idea
Est. 6minAlthough the digitalisation of industry is a top priority among EU decision makers, Europe should not be concerned about job losses caused by growing automation. Instead, member states should teach the new generations the skills required for a digital future, believes the VDMA chief, Thilo Brodtman.
Ex-DARPA chief: ‘Innovation with no goals is not efficient’
Est. 8minKen Gabriel has dedicated his life to innovation and entrepreneurship at Google, and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). For Gabriel innovation boils down to “satisfying an unmet need”.