The second EPISIS service innovation conference – European and national strategies for service innovation
6–7 September, Hamburg, Germany
For two days a crowd of 200 European leaders and experts in services business and innovation have gathered in Hamburg to discuss views and approaches in service innovation. EPISIS is a project under the PRO-INNO Europe Initiative of the DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission. The EPISIS consortium consists of the leading European public authorities including Tekes (Finland, the coordinator), BIS (UK), DASTI (Denmark), PT-DLR (Germany), and Vinnova (Sweden).
The topics discussed include for example:
- Dynamic markets as a driver for innovative service business
- Competences, capabilities and knowledge co-creation
- Measuring the impact of service innovation
- Government policies and best practices in support of service innovation
In the opening plenary session, Dr Jan Mischke from McKinsey Global Institute presented the economic case for service innovation from the point of view of advanced economies (USA, Japan, EU-15). One of his main arguments was that services have created all net new jobs in advanced economies since 1990. This has in practice compensated for losses in manufacturing jobs in these countries. He also pointed out that services currently constitute 25% of advanced economies’ exports. This is in effect paying the bill for primary natural resources.
The conference will continue with thematic workshops focusing on various issues and topics in service innovation.
Jaakko Talvitie, TIVIT
