Innovation Policy 

The Communication "Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU" adopted on 13 September 2006, points the way forward to accompany industry-led and society-driven innovation with competitiveness and public policies at all levels. This also includes the implementation of the actions foreseen in the previous Communication "More Research and Innovation - Investing for Growth and Employment: A Common Approach". The report "Creating an innovative Europe" of January 2006 of the independent high-level expert group chaired by the former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho gave important inputs to EU innovation policy, mainly by stressing the importance of the demand side of innovation. This idea has been taken up by the European Commission when drafting the Lead Market Initiative.