02/04/2008

At the end of March, the first meeting was held for the Monitoring Committee for the Ministry of Development's Operational Programme "Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship" (EPAN II) which is planned for the period 2007-2013. EPAN II includes activities to support entrepreneurship, innovation and extroversion, which were already begun with EPAN during 2000-2006. The main developmental aim is to improve competitiveness.

The three main strategic aims of EPAN II are:
- to speed up the transition to a knowledge-based economy;
- to develop sound, sustainable and extroverted entrepreneurships, and to safeguard the natural, institutional and organisational conditions that serve these;
- to strengthen the appeal of Greece as a country of developing entrepreneurial activity, with respect to the environment and to sustainability.

During his speech at the Monitoring Committee meeting, Development Minister Christos Folias declared that the basic priorities of EPAN II include activities: to create and develop innovation, supported by research and technological development; to strengthen entrepreneurship and extroversion; to improve the entrepreneurial environment; to complete the country's energy system; and to improve human resources. According to mr Folias' statement, National Centres for Research and Development and Regional Innovation Poles will be created in order to support research, technology and innovation. In addition to this, innovation clusters will be boosted in key areas; support will be provided for businesses with a high level of knowledge, as well as for partnerships between producers and Research and Technology bodies; and media networks and technology providing services will be given support.

The Special Secretary for Competitiveness in the Ministry of Development, Eleftherios Stavropoulos, referred to the connection between entrepreneurship and innovation, and gave particular emphasis to the institutional reforms necessary, and to the development of a suitable regulatory and legal framework. According to mr Stavropoulos: "investments in research and development are profitable, particularly if innovation is an inseparable part of a business' strategy. [...] Our aim is to support the transfer of knowledge about innovative products and services, and to support the technology ? know-how transfer to businesses, and particularly to the media. With EPAN II we want to promote cooperation and collaboration in Research and Entrepreneurship. The goal of this collaboration is Innovation and Extroversion. The central developmental goal of EPAN II is to improve competitiveness and extroversion of businesses and of the Greek production system, with emphasis on the aspect of innovation. Innovation is the core of the new economy we are building."

In order increase public awareness of actions related to EPAN, informative exhibitions have been held in thirteen regions of the country in order to predict the results of EPAN 2000-2006 and to set out the questions, worries and interventions of the local communities, in view of the new 2007-2013 programme. The aim is for there to be a significant and substantial contribution to improve the new Programme, to ensure it functions well, and to make a direct comparison with the needs and aspirations of the citizens. The final exhibition, which will be held on 9 May, coincides with the celebration of Europe Day, signalling the direct connection between EPAN and the European Union, since EPAN II is a part of the National Strategic Development Framework (NSDF) 2007-2013, and the community contribution for the new programme comes from the European Regional Development Fund.

Source: Hellenic Ministry of Development