On 1 June, during the knowledge4innovation online event, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel was symbolically handed over the European Innovation Area Manifesto from MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho, member of the ITRE Committee. 

The document, presented as a manuscript, is to be complemented with additional input on the policy orientations that institutions shall pursue in building the European Innovation Area (EIA). A bottom-up method has been implemented by the European Commission to collect expertise from multiple European groups, such as industries and academic bodies, on potential opportunities to foster R&I in the EU.   

The manifesto is in line with the EU’s green and digital goals, and also includes a women-empowering dimension with specific targets on investments in women-led firms and female entrepreneurship. In her speech to the online audience and speakers, Mariya Gabriel emphasised the European Commission’s will to empower women in taking the lead in STEM fields and start-ups. She also mentioned the EU’s overarching intention to “complete the knowledge triangle by connecting the EIA with the European Research Area and the European Education Area”; referring to the EU’s programme synergy strategy for the next MFF term. 

Find out more about it here.