According to the organizers the main goal of K4I is to get the topics of innovation and knowledge on the top of the EU agenda.
At the EIS new elected MEPs and other representatives of different EU institutions have had the opportunity to meet in a structured dialogue with representatives of science and research, universities, various areas and levels of the business world and other stakeholders. Stands of exhibitors and social events have provided additional space for communication.
Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, have also participated at this event and delivered their speeches to the summit participants.
Among the most interesting performances was Mr. Gerard't Hooft's - the Nobel Prize holder in Physics, which highlighted a diminishing trend in the number of Nobel prizes in Europe in the 20th century and on the contrary increasing in the U.S.A.
The idea of creativity loss and innovation in Europe was mentioned in many discussion panels and the lack of human resources and technical creativity has been repeatedly identified as a serious handicap in the development of Europe, more than the lack of financial resources. Climate change was one of another of the periodically recurring topics.
Novitech was the only presenter from Slovakia, which at the same time was one of the sponsors and co-organizers of the event. Novitech in its stand presented project eCommittee. This project through the national moderators in several countries allows the participation of EU citizens in public debate on climate change (see www.OurClimate.eu) and gives them the opportunity to influence a creation of an corresponding legislation. Straight from the summit two Internet conferences were organized with participation of national moderators from Slovakia and Germany, as well as other interesting guests, last but not least with MEP Paul Rübig.
Climate change topic was most present in the Panel 3: Innovation for Sustainability, held on the second day. National moderators of the eCommittee from Slovakia Ing. Michal Kravčík, PhD. (NGO People and Water), national moderator for Germany Mr. Marco Schmidt (TU Berlin) and other guest of Novitech – Mr. Charlie Paton from the UK (Seawater Greenhouse) participated in the Panel. These three participants in the panel presented an innovative approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation to it. According to Mr. Kravčík it consists especially in changing the attitude to the rainwater: in its detention, recycling and utilization for cooling the country. Watergy principle introduced by Mr. Schmidt adds to the rainwater also urban sewage water. Mr. Paton introduced the concept of an existing greenhouse prototypes desalinating seawater only with the help of solar energy. This project applied in a large scale should enable gradual recovery of vegetation in deserts, and hence change of their climate.
Member of Panel 3, MEP and member of the Environmental Committee Mr. Lojze Peterle from Slovenia highly acknowledged opportunity to meet those above mentioned experts and get familiar with their ideas. Just 2 months ahead of climate change conference in Copenhagen Mr. Peterle appreciated an information that water is one of the most important but neglected parameters of climate change, what was also repeated at the very end of the panel 3 by debate moderator Mr. Tucker.
Click here for recording from all the panels: www.knowledge4innovation.eu/k4i/eisdownloads.aspx
Click here for the photogallery of this event: www.ourclimate.eu/ourclimate/photo_2.aspx
Source: www.ourclimate.eu