EURIM Working Group on the Knowledge Economy

Introduction and Terms of Reference

Group Outputs (Papers and Briefings)

Other Relevant Documents and Links

Members Page – for meeting details, minutes, working drafts, and additional group information

Previous work programme for this group

Introduction and Terms of Reference

This group builds on EURIM’s past work on Intellectual Property Rights, beginning with the copyright and database directives, and more recent work on the issues that influence business location in the 21st century. Its first product was a very well received short paper on “A Flourishing Innovation Economy – How the UK must Attract and Retain Knowledge Based Businesses”. The DIUS consultation on Science and Innovation Strategy at the start of 2008 showed, however, that much has to be done to inform officials and politicians as to current economic realities and the role and influence of Government in areas very much wider than research policy. 

Objectives
To foster, attract and retain knowledge based business operations that could be based anywhere in the world and/or move at short notice.

Strategy
To improve the quality of debate on those policy issues which influence the location of industries which depend primarily on the knowledge of their employees and can therefore emigrate at short notice by identifying those political constituencies where they are clustered, enlisting the enlightened self-interest of MPs, candidates and policy advisors accordingly and setting up practical exercises in co-operation other interested groups, both within EURIM and outside.

Deliverables
The group is therefore planning to organise meetings in Quarter 4 of 2008 for MPs whose constituency employment base is critically dependent on such businesses and also for current and would-be political advisors and candidates in co-operation with organisations like the Bow Group and the Fabian Society as well as with trade relevant associations (e.g. Intellect) and those with relevant economic and social expertise (e.g. Local Futures).

Group Outputs (Papers and Briefings)

Other Relevant Documents and Links