How can Europe ignite a culture of innovation

By Adam Bly, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Seed Media Group, USA*

Having participated in prior regional meetings of the World Economic Forum focused on and hosted in emerging markets like China and the Middle East, I am looking forward to participating in my first regional meeting in Europe. The challenges facing Europe today are of course no less complex than those facing emerging markets around the world.

I am particularly interested in how Europe can ignite a distinctly European culture of innovation – in academia, industry, and government – to meet the needs of these times. Specifically: How can Europe leverage its rich scientific, artistic, and cultural foundation to forge a modern competitive society? Can science and innovation reinforce a European Union and crystallize common goals, priorities, and identity? How can Europe help redefine and re-architect science and its place in society for the 21st century? What role might Europe play in a global scientific renaissance?

From Vienna I will be traveling to Brussels to host a conference on the power and potential of open data and data visualization in Europe. Our event will gather leaders in science, design, and innovation, together with representatives from the European Commission, the OECD, and other international organizations, to surface ideas and recommendations in advance of the Digital Assembly being held later in the week. The very existence of the Digital Agenda and Assembly and other similarly clairvoyant undertakings at the EC suggests to me a great deal of potential for positive change and for a renewed and modernized sense of citizen engagement in Europe.

Beyond the science and innovation agenda, I am interested in learning how Europe’s role in the world – politically, economically, geopolitically – is changing in light of new powers and pressures, and more importantly, how the next generation of leaders (fellow Young Global Leaders) anticipates their Europe changing over the next decade.

*Adam Bly will attend the World Economic Forum on Europe and Central Asia in Vienna, Austria 8-9 June 2011 and is guest blogging for the Forum.