The Belgian Presidency has an ambitious agenda in the field of EU Research and Innovation. The first ever European Research and Innovation Plan will be discussed at the Autumn European Council.

Novamont fully supports the cross cutting approach of the plan, recently outlined by Commissioner Geoghean-Quinn. A broad approach, including instruments to support the development of a smarter, greener and more inclusive economy, is needed to create the conditions to allow the EU to take the lead on sustainable innovation. Novamont hopes that the Presidency will drive this approach forward.

Innovation is needed for the creation of a knowledge-based, low-carbon economy. This is crucial for the EU to remain competitive in a globalised world and to achieve societal goals in a sustainable way. While the economic crisis impacts funding, history has shown that prioritising investment in research and innovation plays a key role in a sustainable recovery.

We agree with the aim of making research policy a priority to support innovation in sustainable development. We support the Presidency, which appears determined to find a way out of the present economic situation by enabling the transition to a competitive economy based on sustainable development.

For Novamont, the main challenge of the new millennium is the search for new models of development which are capable of conserving the resources of the planet, while increasing the quality of life of its inhabitants. This means encouraging a transition from a product-based economy to a system-based economy, in order to achieve economic and environmental sustainability in the interests of society as a whole. This would start with the local regions and involve their various stakeholders.

We sincerely hope that the efforts of the Presidency will lead to a tangible strengthening of existing EU initiatives supporting innovation in a coherent and strategic manner. For example, the European Commission's Lead Market Initiatives (LMI) identified six economic sectors for which concrete action can accelerate market development without interfering in the dynamics of competitiveness.

The LMIs objective is the achievement of tangible results through acceptance of EU regulations and approaches by third countries, in particular in sectors affected by general trends (e.g. the environment), aiming to reduce the costs and time-scale of penetration in such markets for new products and services. It is no coincidence that the six LMIs include five markets of key environmental importance: protective textiles, sustainable construction, recycling, bio-based products and renewable energies and e-Health.

Novamont hopes the Presidency will play a key role in helping to trigger more and quicker market uptake of innovative products and services. In this respect regulation and standardisation are powerful tools to provide the right incentives to stimulate the market.