ABSTRACT
Policymakers have identified innovation as one of the most important policy targets for dealing with challenges such as the current economic and financial crisis. Innovation policy frameworks, e.g. the Lisbon Agenda of turning Europe into a knowledge-based economy, are of ever increasing importance:
Looking at the R&D and innovation components in greater detail, the EU has urged its member states to increase planned investments in education and R&D (consistent with national R&D targets) and consider ways to increase private sector R&D investments, for example, by providing fiscal incentives, grants and/or subsidies. Priorities of the Lisbon Agenda are again of increased relevance (large research infrastructures, knowledge transfer schemes, joint R&D programmes, mobility of researchers and international co-operation).
