Innovation as a driver of new business models (exploratory opinion requested by the Dutch presidency)

EESC opinion: Innovation as a driver of new business models (exploratory opinion requested by the Dutch presidency)

Key points

The EESC considers that:

  • it is crucial that Member States and the European Institutions fully recognise and promote "fairer" business models, which are centred on delivering innovation for social development by integrating social impact measurement in parallel to reporting economic progress;
  • Member States and the Commission must ensure that social innovation is fully mainstreamed in innovation programmes;
  • Member States and the EU Institutions must mainstream the principles of innovation in enterprise policy to ensure an enabling culture which promotes, welcomes, rewards and disseminates innovation;
  • the EU must put greater focus on supporting and protecting SMEs, in particular, social economy enterprises, microenterprises and family businesses, and all types of start-ups in innovation policy initiatives to improve the conditions for sustainability and replication/scaling;
  • the Commission should fully incorporate these new business models in the upcoming review of the Single Market strategy, due in 2017.

 

Other relevant EESC opinions:

 

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat