This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Moedas meetings'.



Ref. Ares(2019)5332022 - 21/08/2019



 
2. SPEAKING POINTS  
•  The European Union strives to create enabling framework conditions 
for  open  innovation to thrive. In an effort to institute incentives for 
open innovation, the following actions are pursued: 
o  Eliminating barriers to cross-border capital flows  (Capital 
Markets Union and Digital Single Market); 
o  Shaping the right conditions for data,  knowledge, ideas and 
technology to circulate as openly as possible (European Open 
Science Cloud); 
o  Embedding innovation in regulatory practice through the 
application of the "Innovation Principle" (please see details in 
the background). 
•  We consider EU  industry  as a key driver of productivity and 
innovation. Partnerships with industry under Horizon 2020 have 
delivered, and  are good examples of collaborative research across 
"borders"  -  countries, sectors, technologies. FP9 is still work-in-
progress, but it will address digital as well as industrial technologies. 
We would therefore welcome and encourage Cisco's participation in 
a wider range of European R&I activities across thematic areas to 
help spread digitisation.  
•  The  European Commission  will also aim  to extend the use of 
financial instruments that crowd in private investment in 
digitalisation.  EUR 5.8 bn have already  been  approved Under the 
European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI)  for projects in the 
digital sector. 
•  Innovation  implies  adapting skills to rapidly evolving technologies 
and business opportunities. Europe needs to improve the relationship 
between industry, researchers and education and training systems. 
The Lamy Group Report "LAB-Fab-App" underlines the importance 
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of reinforcing the support for skills and competence development in 
the post-2020 EU programme for research and innovation.  
•  The New Skills Agenda for Europe has put in place several actions 
to tackle industry needs in terms of skills of the future (please see 
details in the background).  
o  Among these, the Blueprint for Sectorial Cooperation on 
Skills  is receiving input from research and innovation. For 
example, the new initiative on Additive Manufacturing builds 
on European research and innovation activities. Other sectorial 
initiatives directly related to innovation are in the automotive 
sector, construction, green technologies & renewable energy, 
or the steel industry. Also digital skills are addressed.  
•  To accelerate the upskilling of Europe's citizens and take advantage 
of digitisation, corporates like Cisco have a key role to play:  
o  Cisco can contribute to identifying and anticipating the 
competences and skills needed for addressing the social, 
economic and technological challenges at stake and how to 
generate them through education and training; 
o  Cisco's innovation centres  facilitate  knowledge transfer and 
collaboration between different actors  –  especially innovators 
and industry. This will be one of the priorities of the EIC; 
o  Cisco's innovation centers in Europe (in Berlin, Paris, 
Barcelona and London) have positive impact on city 
ecosystems. In 2017, also thanks to its thriving start-up scene, 
Paris was named 'European Capital of Innovation' (Station F is 
the world's largest start-up campus, and it can host up to 1,000 
start-ups). 
•  Recognising the need to support entrepreneurs in order to capitalise 
on Europe's scientific excellence, I have made the establishment of a 
European Innovation Council a priority of my mandate.  
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o  The EIC aims to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, and 
streamline existing  support  structures to simplify  access. The 
EIC pilot, which is currently running until 2020, offers a range 
of instruments including funding opportunities, coaching as 
well as business acceleration services.  I am confident these 
measures will have a significant impact on speeding  up the 
translation of ideas into breakthrough, market-creating 
innovations, and empowering European entrepreneurs to scale 
up their businesses internationally. 
•  Today [March 8th] I will be announcing the finalists of the EU Prize 
for Women Innovators, recognising female  entrepreneurs who have 
developed and brought an outstanding innovation to the market. The 
European Commission  commends  Cisco's efforts to promote the 
upskilling of girls and support the development of female talent in 
technology.  
•  We commend Cisco on its commitment to promoting STEM 
education. STEM education is key to increasing society's appetite for 
innovation, and ensuring that Europe is at the forefront of scientific 
and technological advancement.  Building capacities and developing 
innovative ways of connecting science to society has been a priority 
under Horizon 2020.  
 
 
 
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Pastora Valero, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, for Europe, 
Middle East, Africa and Russia (EMEAR) for Cisco Systems Inc. 
 

Pastora Valero is Vice President, Public Policy and 
Government Affairs, for Europe, Middle East, Africa and 
Russia (EMEAR) for Cisco Systems Inc., the global leader 
for networking for the Internet. She leads government affairs 
activities for Cisco in the EMEAR region and is responsible 
for developing and advancing Cisco’s technology and 
communications policy agenda with respect to broadband, 
Internet governance, IP enabled services, trade, energy and 
technology policy issues. She joined Cisco in 2003, and prior 
to her regional role, she led Cisco’s European Union 
Government Affairs strategy between 2003 and 2013. 
Pastora has almost two decades of experience in regulatory 
and public policy issues in the telecommunications and 
Internet related areas, as well as on EU public policy with respect to competition, trade 
and information technology regulation. 
 
Prior to Cisco, she was Vice-President Regulatory Affairs for Global TeleSystems 
(GTS), a pan-European fibre optic network operator. She started her career with the 
Brussels law firm Van Bael & Bellis, and dealt in particular with EU trade and 
competition law issues. Pastora holds leadership positions within several industry 
organizations including as Chair of the Digital Economy Committee of the American 
Chamber of Commerce to the E.U., and Board member of the Trans-Atlantic Business 
Council (TABC). She is a qualified lawyer in Spain, holds a Masters degree in 
European law (ULB, Brussels) and an L.L.M in International law (VUB, Brussels). 
 
 

 
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3.2 Implementation of the Innovation Principle 
In May 2016 the Council adopted conclusions on 'Better Regulation to Strengthen 
Competitiveness' and 'Research and Innovation Friendly Regulation'  which call on the 
Commission together with Member States to promote the use of the Innovation 
Principle. This was also strongly echoed by the strategic note of the European Political 
Strategy Centre (EPSC) on 'Towards  and innovation Principle Endorsed by Better 
Regulation', issued on 30 June 2016.  
Following the Commissioners' Project Team meeting in January 2017 DG RTD 
completed a full screening of the Commission Work Programme 2017 to identify those 
initiatives where the Innovation Principle could be piloted. The screening identified six 
legislative initiatives in four thematic areas for priority application of the Innovation 
Principle. In addition, work is still ongoing to examine the application of the Innovation 
Principle in two policy initiatives that will be developed in 2018. Some of the initiatives 
are already adopted others will be adopted in the first semester of 2018. They are the 
first concrete examples of an Innovation Principle applied in the European legislative 
process. 
3.3 Blueprint for sectoral cooperation on skills 
The Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills was launched as part of the New Skills 
Agenda in June 2016. The Blueprint is a framework for strategic cooperation in a given 
economic sector between key stakeholders such as:  business, trade unions, research, 
education and training institutions (focusing on Vocational Education and Training) and 
public authorities. The aim is to support an overall sectoral strategy and to develop 
concrete actions to address short and medium term skills needs that will after be rolled-
out at national and regional level. 
The Blueprints are launched and funded under the Erasmus+ programme. The partners 
cooperating in the Blueprint will look into how major global, societal, and technological 
developments are likely to affect jobs and skills needs, and assess their potential impact 
on growth, competitiveness and employment in the sector.  
The first five Blueprint Alliances, starting work in January 2018 include: 
•  Automotive; 
•  Maritime technology; 
•  Space - geo information; 
•  Textile, clothing, leather and footwear; 
•  Tourism. 
The next six sectors in the current call under Erasmus+ are:  
•  Additive manufacturing; 
•  Construction; 
•  Green technologies & renewable energy; 
•  Maritime shipping; 
•  The paper-based value chain; 
•  The steel industry.  
 
 
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3.4 European Capital of Innovation Award 2018 
The fourth edition of the European Capital of Innovation Award was launched on 22 
February 2018 at the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony. 
iCapital is an award foreseen within the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, 
Challenge 6. The Award acknowledges outstanding achievements of a city in opening 
up its innovation ecosystem to new models of innovation, experimentation, and citizens' 
engagement. Cities that make the most to promote innovation within their communities 
and that have mainstreamed innovative practice in ordinary urban processes will be 
awarded and set as inspiring role models for others.  
The 2018 European Capital of Innovation will altogether award 6 prizes: 
•  1 European Capital of Innovation 2018,  that will be awarded with EUR 1 
million.  
•  5 Runner-Up cities, that will receive EUR 100 000. This number has increased 
from previous editions, when only 2 Runners-Up were awarded.  
With  an increase in the number of prizes, this award will increase the likelihood of 
awarding even more cities, mayors, and perhaps smaller (or non-capital) cities. Also, 
more cities will be invited to hearings and to be part of the iCapital Alumni Network.  
The prize setup (eligibility, award criteria, and titles of the winning cities) is based on 
previous editions and ensures consistency to potential applicants. The main goal of this 
year's prize management is to enhance the visibility of the prize also outside the circles 
of potential applicants and bring it to the level of other EC prizes for cities.    
3.5 EU Prize for Women Innovators 2018 
Awards have a strong potential to drive innovation through the recognition of 
achievements and the promotion of role models. Following the success of its four 
editions in 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017, the EU Prize for Women Innovators 2018 was 
launched on 05 September and closed on 15 November. Three prizes of €100,000, 
€50,000 and €30,000 will be awarded in the main Women Innovators category and one 
prize of €20,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Rising Innovator Award 
(innovators aged 30 or younger).  
The aim of the Prize is to raise public awareness of the need for more innovation and 
more women entrepreneurs, and to recognise the success of women in innovation. 
Although women are increasingly active in research and innovation, there are still too 
few of them who create innovative enterprises. This represents an untapped potential for 
Europe, which needs to use all its human resources to their full potential to remain 
competitive and find solutions to economic and societal challenges. 
The  2018 contest was open to women of all nationalities residing in an EU MS or 
associated countries to Horizon 2020. They must be the (co-) founder of an active 
company across any sector which was registered before 1 January 2016, and whose 
annual turnover was at least EUR 100,000 in 2015 or 2016 (EUR 50,000 for the rising 
innovator category). The contestants must have received public or private funding for 
Research and Innovation. 
Like for the 2017 edition, 2018 winners will be selected by a jury composed of 
independent experts from business, finance and academia. 
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1.  All application are assessed against the following criteria: 
2.  The originality and marketability of the company's product or service. 
3.  The economic impact measured by the number of countries where the product or 
service is sold, and by the size of the turnover achieved with this service or 
product in 2015 and 2016.  
4.  The societal impact of the company's product or service, measured by the 
number of jobs created and the potential of the service or product to help Europe 
address a grand societal challenge. 
5.  The impact and leadership role of the contestant. 
The finalists are announced on 8 March and the winners will be awarded in June 2018. 
3.6 EU Support for STEM Education 
Science Education forms the basis for the full achievement of the Innovation Union and 
the European Research Area. Under the Science With and For Society agenda, a range 
of initiatives have been financed to pursue greater participation of young people in 
science and encourage long-term scientific careers. Innovative formal and informal 
science education teaching and learning is important in order to raise both young boys' 
and girls' awareness of the different aspects encompassing science and technology in 
today’s society and to address the challenges faced by young people when pursuing 
careers in STEM. 
The annual European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) is one of Europe's 
premier events for showcasing young scientific talent. It is an annual science 
competition that brings together winners of national science competitions (young people 
between 14 and 20 years of age) to compete with their European counterparts. It was 
established in 1989 to promote the ideals of co-operation and interchange between 
young scientists and to attract young people to careers in science. It was held in Tallinn 
in 2017 and will be held in Dublin in September this year. The contest awards over 30 
different prizes. The most prestigious ones are monetary and funded by the European 
Commission. 
 
Scientix, the on-line  community for science education in Europe was developed to 
ensure a wide uptake and dissemination of STEM education practices.  Scientix 
promotes and supports a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers, education 
researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals.  This activity is 
funded by the Horizon 2020 SwafS programme. 
 
3.7 EU Investment in Digitisation 
Between 2001 and 2011, over 30% of all economic growth in the EU can be attributed 
to digital investment and production.  
Support for digital is spread across a range of programmes  
•  Horizon 2020 (€13 bn.) 
•  The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF, €1 bn.) 
•  The Creative Europe Programme (€1 bn.)   
A  major source of funding is the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) 
[€17bn. were invested in digital in the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF 
and €2.3 billion are planned to be invested to digital skills under the European Social 
Fund (ESF) in 2014-2020]. 
 
The EU supports investment in digitisation, offering private investors extensive support: 
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•  Around €20 billion were put to digital projects under European Structural 
Investment Funds (ESIF).  
•  A significant part of EFSI is spent on digital projects (€ 6 b, 11%). 
•  We are also working with centrally managed financial instruments such as 
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF, an equity fund for broadband), Creative 
Europe: Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility (CCS GF). 
•  Generic EU financial instruments are InnovFin and COSME Equity for Growth, 
implemented through EIB/EIF. 
•  France and Germany are thinking about creating a scheme to digitise their 
industries, with the focus on SMEs.   
 
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4. SOCIAL MEDIA 
Accounts: 
Cisco's corporate account: @Cisco 
Chuck Robbins: @ChuckRobbins 
Pastora Valero: @pastora_valero 
 
Hashtags: 
#EUSkillsAgenda 
#iCapitalAwards 
#WIPrizeEU 
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