Launch of the Knowledge4Innovation Forum

In 2011 the European Commission has tabled several highly relevant proposals regarding Europe’s innovation agenda for many years to come. The European Parliament has started debating on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2014 – 2020), the future Cohesion Policy, the next programme for research and innovation – Horizon 2020, and more.

In 2011 the European Commission has tabled several highly relevant proposals regarding Europe’s innovation agenda for many years to come. The European Parliament has started debating on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2014 – 2020), the future Cohesion Policy, the next programme for research and innovation – Horizon 2020, and more. The Knowledge4Innovation Forum of the European Parliament is committed to bring together and provide a platform for policy makers and stakeholders to meet and discuss these issues over the next 18 months in order for Europe to take the right decisions to the benefit of Europe’s citizens and businesses.

ENoLL participated in the K4I forum held at the European Parliament on January 31st, 2012 where Prof. Alvaro Oliveira (ENoLL President) participated and contributed in a session of series of presentations and debates among innovation stakeholders and together with Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the other institutions.

Prof. Oliveira stressed that the Living Labs are more than ever one of the pillars of the European RDI system and they are fully synchronized with the European Commission policy orientations, namely the Europe 2020 strategy and the Digital Agenda for Europe.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to express to you that it is a great privilege to address such a distinct audience.

When I was invited to participate in the launch of the Knowledge4 Innovation Forum Programme, it was with immense interest that I accepted on behalf of the European Network of Living Labs, to share with you my insights on things to come.

In these troubled times, where we are faced by ominous warnings of financial, economic and social collapse, I always turn my attention to what lies underneath the trembling structure: the people.

It is in collaboration between people, between Europe’s citizens and Nations, that true value lies – the power that each individual has to think ahead of his time, to produce new ideas, to innovate and to collaborate, co-design and co-create.

And throughout the last decades of Europe’s blissful peace, men and women have posed the same questions: “How to unleash the potential that lies in us?” “How can we innovate better?”. Individually or in collaboration, many Programs, Methodologies and Platforms have been tested and tried, with good and not so good results.

The rise of ICT has led to the dawn of the Information Age, and with it, the unparalleled improvement in our daily life, and in the way we connect with the world and with each other. But in this technology-driven world, the human being was left a secondary role.

Recently, the human-centric approach, allied to Open Data, has brought once again what matter to the spotlight: citizens. Through Living Labs, users/customers/citizens are the focus of the co-creative process of innovation, toiling side by side with all the stakeholders towards better products and services.

The Living Labs are more than ever one of the pillars of the European RDI system and they are fully synchronized with the European Commission policy orientations, namely the Europe 2020 strategy and the Digital Agenda for Europe.

The Living Labs contribute to a society where innovation leads to sustainable development, growth and job creation, and where new ideas and social innovation promote new markets.

Also, the implementation of Smart Cities, where technology can be a crucial tool to transform virtual communities into real neighbourhoods, recreating the bonds of citizenship and community cohesion. This renewal of connections between persons is key to insure resilient and supportive societies, that can unite in face of adversity and promote sustainable lifestyles, addressing wellbeing and ageing, energy efficiency, climate change and stand up to overcome the great Challenges of our Times.

The Living Lab movement has emerged as a tool for technological, economic and social development at the local and regional scales, giving great opportunities for:

•       Rural, urban and in general regional development

•       Leveraging SME innovation

•       Creating new roles for public authorities in promoting innovation.

Today we will explore not only the way Europe is learning to face the Challenges of our times, but also on how we can help the other continents to address these issues.

We at ENoLL are promoting very proactively the Living Labs ecosystems methodologies to co-design and co-create the solutions that respond to the needs of our society. We are involved in a worldwide co-operation movement where a couple of months ago I was in China launching the Chinese Network of Living Labs and formally signing a cooperation agreement, and in Brazil together with the European Commission and the Brazilian Government celebrating the official launch of the Brazilian Network of Living Labs and discussing concrete cooperation between EU and Brazil.

Last month I was in South Africa, representing the task force of the African Network of Living Labs at the final steps of the public consultation of their White Paper Policy.

We are now in the process of our 6^th Wave for new member acceptance. With 274 Living Labs spread all over the World, ENoLL is quickly growing and leading the Innovation route for change.

It is through people, and with people that the current crisis shall be overcome, and the Age of Information may develop into the Age of Knowledge. Not through the whims of individual nations, but through the cohesion of peoples towards a common good, a shared and composite identity, that will contribute to new socio-economic models and world stability.

In this forum I hope that we all may engage in this user-driven open innovation movement of the Living Labs and together co-create a better and happier society.