Innovation policies for the future
The Forum for innovation policy is an initiative to promote more effective policy-making in this area.
The aims
The main aim of the Forum has always been to create a platform for exchanging information and initiating joint Nordic projects to improve the policy framework, and therefore business conditions, for Nordic companies, not least Nordic small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).
The Forum takes as its starting point "best practice" initiatives involving projects seen by the Nordic nations as important in developing the competitive and innovative capacities of Nordic business enterprises. In this context, "best practice" is not necessarily limited to the Nordic countries, but also has an international perspective. The Forum for innovation policy is therefore targeted at the various institutions responsible for innovation and business policies -- albeit one whose activities will indirectly affect individual companies
Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) as innovators
Research shows that under the right conditions SMEs can be very innovative. However, innovation is a great effort for most SMEs, and there are numerous factors that can limit innovative activity, e.g. financial risk, lack of qualified staff, limited development capacity, or organizational conditions in the company.
Small innovative businesses are crucial to future Nordic growth
SMEs account for an increasing share of job creation and are a vital creative and adaptive force in the economy. New ideas and products often originate in small innovative companies. Such companies can react swiftly to signals from clients, markets and colleagues. They see how their own products and skills can create value, and they are open to new contacts, alliances, networking, etc. In times of technological change it is often the new and smaller companies which are quickest to convert the new technological opportunities to profitable activity.
For the governments of the Nordic countries it is important to develop ways
of reducing barriers and constraints to innovation and growth so as to
extract greater value. Here collaboration is central if the companies are to have the benefit of a more favourable climate for development. Creating common arenas among relevant institutions in the Nordic countries for learning about good practice in securing the best possible development conditions for innovative companies is therefore a crucial dimension in the work of the Forum for innovation policy.
The aims
The main aim of the Forum has always been to create a platform for exchanging information and initiating joint Nordic projects to improve the policy framework, and therefore business conditions, for Nordic companies, not least Nordic small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).
The Forum takes as its starting point "best practice" initiatives involving projects seen by the Nordic nations as important in developing the competitive and innovative capacities of Nordic business enterprises. In this context, "best practice" is not necessarily limited to the Nordic countries, but also has an international perspective. The Forum for innovation policy is therefore targeted at the various institutions responsible for innovation and business policies -- albeit one whose activities will indirectly affect individual companies
Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) as innovators
Research shows that under the right conditions SMEs can be very innovative. However, innovation is a great effort for most SMEs, and there are numerous factors that can limit innovative activity, e.g. financial risk, lack of qualified staff, limited development capacity, or organizational conditions in the company.
Small innovative businesses are crucial to future Nordic growth
SMEs account for an increasing share of job creation and are a vital creative and adaptive force in the economy. New ideas and products often originate in small innovative companies. Such companies can react swiftly to signals from clients, markets and colleagues. They see how their own products and skills can create value, and they are open to new contacts, alliances, networking, etc. In times of technological change it is often the new and smaller companies which are quickest to convert the new technological opportunities to profitable activity.
For the governments of the Nordic countries it is important to develop ways
of reducing barriers and constraints to innovation and growth so as to
extract greater value. Here collaboration is central if the companies are to have the benefit of a more favourable climate for development. Creating common arenas among relevant institutions in the Nordic countries for learning about good practice in securing the best possible development conditions for innovative companies is therefore a crucial dimension in the work of the Forum for innovation policy.
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