The European Commission announced that he would like that 2009 was the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

SOURCE | CORDIS: Information Service in R & D Community

Europe is striving to become the knowledge-based economy, the world's largest by the end of 2010. Everyone agrees that to achieve this goal it is necessary to encourage people to develop skills in a number of key areas to build a knowledge-oriented society.

One such area is education and the specific subjects of mathematics, science, information and other technologies. The Year will focus, therefore, in helping people develop better skills in regard to problem solving and application of knowledge and ideas in real life situations. Also encourage activities focusing on social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Due to the importance of the cultural sector to the economy in 2009 will also promote creativity and artistic ability as a continuation of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008). Other policy areas to be covered are trade, media, research and social development, regional and rural development.

According to Ján Figel ', Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, the Year is "an effective way to help address the new challenges by increasing public awareness, disseminating information on best practices, promoting education and research creativity and innovation, and promote change and political debate. The combination of actions at community, national, regional and local level can generate synergies and help to focus the policy debate on specific issues. "

The European Parliament and the Council considered this proposal from the Commission this year.