Innovation union-A Free well illustrated pocket guide on Innovation & Growth_A Europe 2020 initiative

Innovation union - Research policy and organisation - EU Bookshop: "Innovation union
A pocket guide on a Europe 2020 initiative" is a well illustrated little guide with some important lessons and some solid statistical data on the benefits of innovation for crisis resolution and economic growth.

Summary
"Europe’s future is connected to its power to innovate. The Innovation Union, an action-packed initiative for an innovation-friendly Europe, is the solution. It forms part of the Europe 2020 strategy that aims to create smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" says the EU Commission's Directorate for Research & Innovation

REMARK straight from the heart before listing the subject in the pocket guide:
However it may loose some punch by falling into the classical EU communication trap of announcing something for every one. cf point 10 below.  While apparently pulling hard for the famous flat playing field, I for one would like to see EU innovating a relatively easy no competition ruling on cross border drug selling, namely tobacco, Standardise price across the EU based on the highest price currently used to prohibit this proven cancerous inducing highly costly practise.


The Pocket Guide_Headings and visual supports

1. Why do we need an Innovation Union?
2. How is the European Union doing this?
3. Scoreboard_EU-27 PERFORMANCE IN INNOVATION COMPARED TO
MAIN COMPETITORS - Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011.
4. What is_ Innovation defined 
“Innovation is the ability of individuals, companies and entire
nations to continuously create their desired future”
John Kao, “Innovation Nation” (2007).
5. Where & How_Innovation is everywhere, Examples are given.
6. Best way to beat the crises_Innovate our way out.. Graph 1.

7. Business environment and economic recovery, Graph 2.
8. Ideas need an innovation-friendly environment to grow and becomeproducts or services that will benefit us all and our economies. Hurdles to be overcome, (info-graphs) by:-
 Improving conditions and access to finance for research and innovation in Europe, we can ensure that innovative ideas can be turned into products and services that create growth & jobs.
9.Large place for science
Innovation Union initiative aims to:
-Make  Europe a world-class performer in science.
Revolutionise the way the public and private sectors work together, notably through innovation
partnerships
Remove bottlenecks – create an internal market for skills, patents, venture capital, innovation procurement and standard setting to foster ideas being quickly implemented on the market.
10 SOMETHING for EVERYONE?
- Pretended  Benefits for Citizens and public authorities. 
The initiative claims that it will make it easier for you to market your ideas and develop your company.
-Researchers and engineers
The initiative will make it easier for you to conduct your research in Europe.

MORE:

REFS:

A pocket guide on the Innovation Union

Innovation Union progress at country level 2014

'via Blog this'

Coal Jobs- Editorial News Feb 2009 from The Institute of Mining Minerals and Materials

Coal news up dates from IOM3:

Celtic Energy re-opened an existing railroad line to carry output from the East Pit opencast site
to the coal washery. Each traiload can carry 1,400t of coal, equivalent to 70 lorry loads! The pit returned to full production in Sept. 08 due to growing demand for coal.

The investment will be in East Pit (Gwaun Cae Gurwen), where the company has already spent a total of £4 million in gearing up for production. This includes a £1.4 million spend alone on a new excavator and the introduction of a double shift in order to meet growing demand for Welsh coal. In total the number of jobs provided at the site will rise from 23 to 86, with 38 staff moving from other Celtic Energy sites. A major recruitment drive was launched to attract local people to fill the remaining positions.

Further investment will provide a £100 million boost to the local economy over 7 years.

The Institute hails such news in the face of current hesitations and job losses.

Let me add once more that almost all serious observers and one in particular the OECD Observer consider that "the focus on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) seems particularily promising. cf. OECD refs 3,4, 5. below. I do indeed trust that OECD will finalise credible economic and financial instruments necessary to ensure that miners faith will turn into fact rather than fiction and greenhouse gas (GHG) friction.

More...

Celtic Energy Coal Video

Menace and Opportunity

There are, of course, opponents to Fossil Fuel, and coal in particular. I have included one such LINK, the first I came across on UK mining operations.

Remark

I am afraid that much persuasion (carrot)clout(stick) and some disaster will be necessary before such major bad-play as one has seen to-date from the big two China and USA. (Coal and Power generation).

Strangely, CCS inertia, appears more prevailant in "dematerialised fields" partly in Economics (excepting the Stein Report) and more so in Financial issues than in strictly scientific, engineering and technological fields, or are the latter simply better qualified to understand the physical mechanics and dynamics of climate change?

References.

1. Celtic Energy

2. Celtic Energy Coal Video


2. OECD Observer

4. Climate Change, Growth and Stability Highlights of the OECD forum 2008. Observer Suppliment Nov. 2008.

5. More articles : OECD.org