Policy Focus

Home-grown talent can tackle climate change, says EU industry chief

LJUBLJANA: EU enterprise commissioner Günter Verheugenhas said that Europe must foster home-grown innovation in the fightagainst climate change.

Speaking at a press conference in Slovenia on Tuesday, he said thatdeveloping clean industries within the EU is a key objective forthe current European commission.

“One of the most important policy initiatives of the currentcommission is to develop industry which produces the safest,cleanest, most sustainable products,” he said.

“It is a top priority to ensure that European innovation isstrengthened. Europe cannot leave its inventors out in thecold.

“I have no doubt that we will win [against] globalcompetition.”

Verheugen was among those speaking at a two-day conference onEuropean patenting and climate change being held inLjubljana.

Slovenia’s economy minister Andrej Vizjak added that innovativeEuropean research must be supported by proper intellectual propertylegislation.

“The protection of innovation and the support arising from thisprotection is why the topic of European patents is at the heart ofthe Slovenian presidency,” he said.

“Investment in research is definitely worth doing; it is needed ifwe are to preserve life on this planet,” he added.

Alison Brimelow, president of the European patent office, echoedVizjak’s calls for better regulation.

“The challenge for patent systems is to provide sufficient supportfor those who are trying to tackle climate change throughinnovation,” she said.

“The basic truth is that people getting good ideas off the groundoften don’t know that they have to think about intellectualproperty.

“You have to remember that being a small entrepreneur can at timesbe hell.”