Ep. 20 - The vision behind New EU Innovation Agenda & Regional innovation valleys

With talents, with innovation, with diversity, but with partnerships and collaboration, definitely we can achieve much more than expected and expected by others, not us.

So thank you, because we are ambitious.

Absolutely.

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So it's the first time that I'm running a minded chat with a former European Commissioner and a future Prime Minister. So I think it's the first of a kind. So I don't know exactly how to do that. I'm super happy to have the opportunity because beyond having with me today Maria Gabriel, which is a former European Commission for innovation, research and many other things, again, you have a very, very long title at those times and currently is the Deputy Prime Minister for Bulgaria and also Minister of Foreign affairs and will be the next Prime Minister for Bulgaria. So I'm really honored and I think as so so our dear friend. And this makes this conversation even more relevant, important. So Maria, we have met at the time in Brussels and we have seen the work that you have done for trying to pushing innovation a bit higher on the European innovation. And actually today European Union has an innovation agenda, I would say because of you. Can you tell us a bit your experience in Brussels and what you have done for making this pretty huge progress?

Well, first of all, thank you very much dear friend, because yes, we are friends and I'd like really to congratulate you for your dedication and enthusiasm. I think that I can start with an innovation and the innovation it was that I was Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Education, Culture and Youth, and that was the first time that two completely different portfolios were under the umbrella of one single commissioner. So you can see that with innovation we break silos and we need really to work and to learn how to work as a team. And I think that that's the most important thing for me is that if today we have the new European innovation agenda, if today startups are on the agenda of the European Union, is because I can lead a team, because I have a team. And I think that it's really important always to preserve this capacity to talk to each other, to cooperate, to collaborate, to look at the same direction and to support simply each other. I think that the next thing it was that, well, how we can proceed. There is no European innovation agenda. The last innovation agenda of the European Union. It was in 2011. We are not living anymore on the same quality, if I may say so. For me it was important that this time an innovation agenda is not imposed by an institution. We need always a bottom up approach and we need to co create solutions together like startups are learning us. And I must say that together with my team we had more than 200 meetings in less than one year. And we met unicorns, startups, women Founders group and that was amazing to see the extraordinary diversity that we have. The final result, it was a new European innovation agenda co created by the innovation ecosystem and with the innovation ecosystem with very clear five pillars, 25 actions. And my message today is that it doesn't matter you are Commissioner or not, I'm now Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Defence. What I want to do is to accelerate the realization of those 25 factions, of course in the field of my competencies. But everyone can and should contribute. We are talking about talents. Yes, everyone in every single ministry or in every company, in every region, in every university, can contribute to the achievement of this goal. Yes, we would like to work with regions. Well, we need to establish links between those regions in Bulgaria, in France, like we are in Paris, we need to strengthen that the same. We need really to build partnerships. And here Europe would like to insist on our strength. But we should really be aware that we can do that in partnership. We are not living isolated in this world. And that's why, for example, it was important for me as Minister of Foreign affairs, in our strategic dialogue with us for a first time to introduce innovation. And believe me, it took just few seconds and our counterpart said why we didn't think before. I said, well, I want to advance together. So yes, I think that today, a day of recognition with the award of the teamwork and my capacity to lead this team to encourage them. Because believe me, I'm speaking now with Anjosi chasm and joy. But not all moments were only positive, but we have really to learn from this moment and to advance together. And now that's a responsibility how from the place where you are, the country, the position, you can contribute to see innovation not only on the top of the agenda, but to see how innovation can bring concrete benefits in the daily life of of all our citizens.

Yeah, I think that's why I think the judging committee decided to award you as Startup Ecosystem star for the year. And so I think beyond what you have achieved in your role of European Commissioner. And again, you have not mentioned the European Innovation regions. That has been one of the. The baby that you were able to again to add, to put, and hopefully they will continue because it's been a visionary approach. That is something that's so much complicated, so much needed for Europe. I believe that what has been really recognized from the work that you've been doing is essentially your mindset. That is mindset changing. The role has not been changed at all. And so again, I saw the same energy, the same level of commitment, the sole attention to details and diversity and pushing also for the right chaosis. I think that is the same that you are seeing and I think that's what we are recognizing today. So thank you for the work you'll be done, all the best for the new endeavors that I know are pretty tough. Again, when we met in Silicon Valley back in March, again, you were still in the former position, but again, the light in your eyes and the energy is the same. So I'm pretty sure that you will, whatever you will do there, will also pay attention to innovation, diversity, sustainability. That is something that has already been part of your mandate. So thank you.

Well, thank you very much, dear Roberto. So for me, it's really important. With talents, with innovation, with diversity, but with partnerships and collaboration, definitely we can achieve much more than expected and expected by others, not us.

So thank you, because we are ambitious.

Absolutely.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for being with us today. And see you in the next episode of Open Innovation Talks. Mind the bridge chat with industry leaders.