WIN - Why take the highroad of innovation

2007 – This WIN-report: Why take the high road of innovation – Work-oriented innovation strategies in Europe, discusses the main elements of work-oriented innovation strategies. National and regional advocates in Europe of workplace innovation have built institutional linkages between national and regional activities which were fragmented up to now. These developments are part of a work-oriented innovation strategy .

WORK-IN-NET (WIN)
The WORK-IN-NET (WIN) was a Coordination Action (CA, 2005 – 2010) in the ERA-net and  aimed to collect, analyze and disseminate information on national activities in the field of innovation. By improving the quality of work and making more use of the creativity of the employees, Europe can keep up with the demands of today’s economy. The information was shared with other Member States of the European Union where workplace innovation is not yet on the agenda. WORK-IN-NET wanted to reduce economic and social disparities between European countries. 

The report
This background analysis intends to  widen project integration by outlining the conditions of workplace innovation, discussing a European model of innovation and taking the economic and political challenges of this strategy under the microscope.
This report discusses successively:

1. Workplace Innovation in Europe: framework and preconditions:
– The differences between European countries in the field of workplace  innovation;
– Examples of programs in different countries;
– Initiatives for organizations in the EU; 
– A framework for innovation strategies;
– The political context; 
– The role of social partners; 
– The importance of thorough research.
 
2. A European model of growth through innovation:
– The role of HR in improving the quality of work, innovative power of staff and labor productivity; 
– The importance of creating a culture in which workplace innovation can live;
– The importance of research and tasks for WIN.

3. Economic and political challenges:
– The productivity paradox and alternative approaches to policy;
– Social welfare versus global cost competitiveness by increasing poverty; 
– Innovation and employment in new sectors.

Reference
See the annex for the full article Why take the high road of innovation – Work-oriented innovation strategies in Europe. (2007) By P. Oehlke, C.H. Riegler, D. Wuppermann and C. Zettel.

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