Injo Discussed in EU parliament

The innovation journalism program is presently working on broadening public understanding of how independent journalism covering innovation can be as important for democracy as traditional political journalism, while at the same time offering a promising new market for the news industry. It is a boot-strapping operation that requires contacts with all types of stakeholders in the innovation economy.

Knowledge4Innovation, headed by Roland Strauss, organized an event in the EU parliament on April 8, bringing together stakeholders in the EU innovation economy including parliamentarians and top level decision makers from the EU commission, such as Angelika Niebler, EU parliament chairwoman of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy; Janez Potocnik, EU Commissioner for Science and Research, and Odile Quintin, Director General, DG Education and Culture.

I was selected by K4I to read the declaration of the event, and to speak about how independent innovation journalism is the key for bringing together the innovation economy with democratic society, a point that was well understood by many of the politicians in the audience. Potocnik has previously spoken about this.

The program of the event is here, and the list of participants is here. A substantial part of the Brussels innovation policy power players were present. The organisers had not counted with the enormous interest, and were forced to turn down people, as the event could not host more than 150 participants. This is an indication of how 'innovation' is rapidly claiming an increasing mindspace in Brussels.

The K4I news release for the event is here.