TA-Institutionen und TA-Programme

Since its inception in the early 90s, the European Innovation Monitoring System (EIMS) of the European Commission's Innovation Programme has played an increasingly significant role in supporting the study and empirical evaluation of new technologies and innovative processes in business and enterprises across Europe. Abstracts of some 60 studies, conducted under the EIMS are now available on the World Wide Web. In addition, a special CORDIS Focus Supplement has been published to ensure the widest possible dissemination of the research results.

The European Innovation Monitoring System is one of the main lines of actions of the Community INNOVATION Programme. It covers a set of activities aimed at providing firms, intermediaries, academics and policy makers with information, analysis and research on the factors shaping, promoting and inhibiting innovation at company level across Europe.

In seeking to fulfil these objectives, EIMS is undertaking the following activities:

The monitoring of innovation and diffusion

This is conducted through surveys and studies on themes such as the innovative capabilities and performances of firms, the scale, scope, usage and performance of innovation infrastructures and innovation supporting services, the identification of obstacles and impediments to the dissemination of technologies, as well as the effects of public action supporting innovation infrastructures and innovating firms. This work encompasses both innovation studies based on data already available which provide "state-of-the-art" empirical overviews, as well as the collection and processing of new data on innovation in Europe, in close collaboration with EUROSTAT.

Work on the conceptual framework of the innovation process

Activities here focus on models and theories of innovation processes and on the acquisition of technological competence from external sources, on conceptualizing innovation infrastructures and the diffusion of new technologies. The objective is to formulate concepts which can be used to guide empirical research and guide future development. This should lead on to the development of methodologies and codes of Best Practice.

The innovation policy experience exchange

Drawing on conclusions derived from the work referred to above, the Innovation Policy experience exchange aims at improving the synergies and the overall efficiency of policies implemented at regional, national and European levels. This is done by the exchange of good practice, the assessment of the role of regions, Member States and the Community in formulating and executing innovation policy, the assessment of existing as well as future Community actions and the scope for concerted actions.

The research and analytical activities of EIMS focus on six main areas of relevance for innovation in Europe:

• Innovation in Firms, including the Community Innovation Survey;
• Innovation Policy and Analysis;
• The Legal and Regulatory Environment for Innovation;
• Regional Innovation Issues and Science Parks;
• Innovation and Technology Transfer supporting Services and Infrastructures;
• The Financial Environment for Innovation.

EIMS projects use desk research, surveys and case study methodologies. Data collection and analyses are performed by pan-European teams from universities, research institutes and consultancy firms. The large scale Community Innovation Survey (CIS) data collection, in-depth case studies and quantitative surveys contribute further to research on public policies and on the innovation process itself.

Policy makers in the Member States and in the Commission have been the main target group for EIMS work, raising the profile of both the innovative activities of firms and the role of public programmes and of intermediaries, strengthening the base of available knowledge. Practitioners and managers of intermediary functions o in the technology transfer process have been another main target group for an important part of EIMS work. This has complemented other exploratory studies, experiments and services initiated by the Commission.

The diffusion of results has been mainly based on publications, workshops and conferences organised since 1993 with the participation of the main actors from the innovation and knowledge system: managers, policy makers, academics and enterprises.

EIMS studies on the Web

About 60 EIMS studies were carried out during the period 1993 to 1996. Information on these studies is now available on a new Web Site just launched on the CORDIS server - the Community Research and Development Information Service. The studies are grouped according to the six main areas of activities. For each of the studies short abstracts with main findings and policy implications are given. Information on the availability of the full studies is included in the presentations of the studies. Most of them can be obtained free of charge.

In addition, a special CORDIS focus Supplement was issued in December 1997, to ensure the widest possible dissemination of results: "The European Innovation Monitoring System (EIMS). Exploring Innovation in Europe - Summaries of studies undertaken by EIMS."
(Compiled from CORDIS focus)

The EIMS Web site may be found on the CORDIS server at:
http://www.cordis.lu/eims/home.html

Copies of the CORDIS Focus Supplement (No 14) may be obtained from:

European Commission
DG XIII - Telecommunications, information
market and exploitation of research
RTD Help Desk
Dissemination of scientific and technical
knowledge unit (Unit D/2)
rue Aleide de Gasperi (EUFO 2286)
L-2920 Luxembourg
Fax: + 352-430132084
E-mail: RTD-HelpdeskEqb7∂lux dg13 cec be