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

SOURCE | CORDIS News Service R & D Community

Europe is striving to become the most competitive knowledge-based world's largest by the end of 2010. All agree 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 on helping people develop better skills when it comes to problem solving and application of knowledge and ideas in real life situations. Also encourage activities focusing on social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Because of 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 covered will include trade, media, research and social development, regional and rural areas.

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

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