Workshop on The dynamics of EU industrial structure and the growth of innovative firms - SUMMARY

The workshop on "Dynamics of EU industrial structure and the growth of innovative firms" has been implemented as part of the European Commission's ongoing analytical work to support policy initiatives in the context of the Europe 2020 strategy. It aimed at taking stock and presenting relevant pieces of analysis in the field of corporate R&D investment and industrial dynamics (carried out by the Commission or other entities) with an ultimate objective of identifying potential synergies between relevant studies as well as for determining the gaps and possible areas where further analysis would be necessary. Building on recent evidence, there is growing policy consensus in Europe of the need to favour a positive dynamism of the structure of the economy (sector composition and share) which can influence the speed of achieving a knowledge-intensive society, as well as a positive dynamism of the demographics of EU smaller-sized firms to eventually become large global players, as one of the determinants for the success of the future European economy and society. The present summary reports the relevant findings of the presentations and discussions elaborated by the participants, according to the main workshop' streams, i.e.: opening session; dynamics of the economic structures and corporate research & innovation in the EU; the relevance of the growth of innovative companies for the competitiveness of the EU; the perspective of practitioners and the role of policy. A concluding session of this report summarises the most significant messages which arose from the implementation of the event and streamlines the foreseen follow up actions.