In practical terms the HLWG will use their collective experience to benchmark and validate the project team's preliminary findings with their professional practice whilst also providing guidelines, research pointers and supportive documents for the development of the deliverables. A key aim for the HLWG members is to identify and illuminate new trends and developments in the dynamic relationship between innovation policy, the regulatory framework and the knowledge based and creative society.

A variety of profiles have been sought in order to ensure sufficient depth and breadth of complementary knowledge and experiences within the membership. Thus the HLWG’s membership includes members from:

• The business community to bring experience of the problems of innovating and working within the regulatory framework.
• The policy-making community to advise on the interactions between policy makers and institutions in the formulation of innovation and related policies.
• The academic community to bring insight into theories of innovation policy.
• Interface bodies to discuss the framework of actors, institutions and processes, including financing, within which innovating SMEs have to operate.

The High level working group is an integral part of the project team, not a steering committee. The outputs of the project will be developed and refined through the participation of the High level working group members. The four High level working group meetings will act as the foundation for on-going task-based co-operation between the study team and the High level working group members.

The High level working group will follow the progress of the study in order to validate provisional findings and provide options and suggestions for further consideration in the framework of the study’s objectives. 

High Level Working Group Members

• Bruno AMABLE, Cepremap-CNRS, France
• Augustus BERKHOUT, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
• Raoul KNEUCKER, Head of Division "Scientific Research and International Affairs", Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Austria
• John BARBER, director of TESE, Technology, Economics, Statistics & Evaluation Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry, United Kingdom - Representative : Martin RIDGE, DTI
• Horst SOBOLL Director of research policy at of DaimlerChrysler AG., Germany - Representative : Donald HILLEBRAND
• Reinhold ENQVIST managing director of the Nordic Industrial Fund, Nordic countries
• Juan MULET, general manager of COTEC Foundation, Spain
• Riccardo VIALE Fondazione Rosselli, Italy

European Commission Representatives

• Jean-Noël DURVY, Head of Innovation Unit, Enterprise DG, European Commission
• José Ramon TISCAR, Innovation Unit, Enterprise DG, European Commission

Study launched by Unit C1 - Innovation Policy - of DG Enterprise of the European Commission