2009: European Year of Creativity & Innovation
Tuesday 20 January 2009
The European Year of Creativity and Innovation has the objective to raise awareness of importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development, to disseminate good practices, stimulate education and research, and promote policy debate and development.
The Year addresses a wide spectrum of related themes such as:
- fostering artistic and other forms of creativity through pre-school, primary and secondary education including vocational streams, as well as non-formal and informal education
- maintaining engagement with creative forms of self-expression throughout adult life
- cultural diversity as a source of creativity and innovation information and communication technologies as media for creative self-expression
- ensuring that mathematics, science and technological studies promote an active, innovative mindset
- developing a wider understanding of the innovation process and a more entrepreneurial attitude as prerequisites for continued prosperity
- promoting innovation as the route to sustainable development
- regional and local development strategies based on creativity and innovation
- cultural and creative industries including design – where the aesthetic and the economic coincide
- innovation in public and private services.
Two key initiatives have so far been launched as part of the year:
1. European Entrepreneurship Video Award - Deadline 31 March 2009
The European Commission is launching the first European Entrepreneurship Video Award. This idea is to show Europeans that they are the entrepreneurs Europe needs today and in the future. It is also an opportunity to reflect on entrepreneurship and the benefits of an entrepreneurial career. The contest will promote innovation and creativity, and show that successful entrepreneurs, like successful film-makers, are those who can think outside the box.
The challenge is to make creative and original short videos (1-3 minutes long) in one of 3 categories: "The entrepreneurial spirit", "Innovative Entrepreneurship" and "Responsible Entrepreneurship".
Further information: European Entrepreneurship Award.
2. European SME Week - 6th to the 14th May 2009.
The first European SME Week is a campaign to promote entrepreneurship across Europe and to inform entrepreneurs about support available for them at European, national and local level. It allows SMEs to discover an array of information, advice, support and ideas to help them develop their activities.
Throughout 2009, events are taking place to inform, assist and connect existing and potential entrepreneurs and also help them develop new ideas and benefit from personalised information and support.
The European SME Week is co-ordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, but most of the events and activities taking place during the SME Week are organised by business organisations, support providers, regional and local authorities, and others in the participating countries. The SME Week is one of the measures implementing the Small Business Act, the first comprehensive SME policy framework for the EU and its Member States.
Further information:European SME Week.