EU’s industry plan falls short of expectations

Universities bemoan lack of new ideas on innovation

Higher education institutions are disappointed with the European Commission’s “limited” and “inward-looking” industrial policy strategy, which fails to grapple with the effects of innovation on people’s lives.

The strategy, launched by the Commission on 18 September, sets out a plan to bolster business. It aims to make industry account for 20 per cent of the EU’s GDP by 2020. But universities have complained that the strategy has little new to offer them.