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Innovation Forum 2011: Tackling the climate challenge: cutting emissions and improving resource-efficiency
This year's Innovation Forum will have a particular focus on the climate challenge and resource efficiency, and look at how innovation can unlock the path to green growth and a low-carbon economy. The objective of de-carbonising the EU's economy by 2050 to limit climate change has wide-ranging implications for all sectors of Europe's economy. Tackling climate change will require a new approach to the way we produce and consume goods and services to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Part of the change will involve how we use existing resources; another will mean developing different resources from those we have had in the past. These challenges are an opportunity to anticipate the next industrial revolution and achieve leadership in the sectors which will be the basis for green growth. The EU has to address some important questions. Does it have the right policy framework to promote innovation? What policy decisions are needed to move to de-carbonise the energy and transport sectors by 2050? This high-level event will bring together industry leaders, innovators, thinkers and senior policymakers to discuss how to best achieve these ambitious objectives. Among many issues, key topics will include innovative technologies in the various sectors, including energy and transport, regulatory issues, EU policies and how to finance innovation.
Speaking at Innovation Forum 2011:
Janez Potocnik European commissioner for the environment	Harry van Dorenmalen Chairman Europe, IBM	Wolfgang Steiger Director of future technologies, Volkswagen / Chairman, ERTRAC
For the full line-up, please visit the programme page.
Why the Innovation Forum?
The EU needs to improve its innovation performance if it is to remain competitive in the global economy, achieve growth and maintain a share of global markets. EU leaders have made boosting innovation one of their main priorities for the next decade. In October 2010 the European Commission announced the launch of an “Innovation Union” whose aim is to unlock Europe's potential for innovation. The EU's national governments have negotiations on funding for the post-2014 period and there is strong political support for increasing the share of the overall budget for research and innovation. Better performance on innovation will be required to tackle the great challenges with which Europe is confronted: climate change and demographic change. These challenges are against a backdrop of increasing global competition for resources and economic leadership. The Innovation Forum will bring together industry leaders, innovators, thinkers and senior policymakers to discuss how Europe can unleash the power of innovative ideas and face up to these challenges.