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The world is at a critical juncture where our industrial and economic principles have to be reshaped. Three major transitions are underway: towards the use of alternative energy sources, towards carbon-neutral and sustainable production, and towards digitalised manufacture and distribution. This book explores the ways in which these transitions are taking place in Europe.
No single institution can bring about the necessary changes: a productive cooperation between government, industry and (technological) knowledge centres has to be established. In this insightful book, Fred Bakker paints a vivid picture of a wide range of European businesses, industries and research institutes, joining forces to further the transitions. This process of 'Sharing Brainpower' proves to be a unique European strength that needs to be recognised and furthered.
Structured in five parts, the book provides a thumbnail sketch of Europe's goals and methods, through a bird's eye view across current initiatives towards the three transitions, to a concluding part in which the workings of Sharing Brainpower are described in terms of a set of 'lessons learned'. It shows how top-down initiatives and the bottom-up approach reinforce one another, with case stories that prove that diversity does not have to mean fragmentation; it is a source of strength.
Policymakers, industry advisers, board members, chief innovation officers and students will find much to inspire them and their work in this book.
A website with cases, updates and more information is available at sharingbrainpower.eu.
List of contents
Introduction: A Work in Progress Part I: Forging a Future-Proof Union 1. Europe: Coming to Its Own 2. Sharing Brainpower: A European Approach 3. Knowledge Centres: From Ideation to Application 4. Europe's Budding Innovation Strategy 5. EC 'Conducting' the European Industry Part II: The Energy Transition 6. How Europe Fosters Sustainable Enterprise 7. Wind Blows Life into the Energy Transition 8. EU Takes Lead in Becoming the First Hydrogen Economy 9. Battery Chain: The Push and Pull of Market Forces Part III: The CO2 and Sustainability Transitions 10. Capture and Storage of CO2: Commitment is Key 11. A Patchwork Approach to the Circular Chemical Industry Part IV: The Digital Transition 12. Digitalisation and the Search for European Standards 13. The Computer Chip Industry: European Answers to International Questions 14. Quantum Computing: An EU-Sponsored 'Sandbox' Ecosystem Part V: Sharing Brainpower as a Working Model 15. Drachten Case Story: The Wealth of Different Perspectives 16. A Mentality of Co-Creation 17. A New European Approach Conclusions
About the author
Fred Bakker spent his working life as a journalist specialising in monetary and financial affairs with
Het Financieele Dagblad - the Dutch equivalent of
Financial Times - serving as deputy editor, editor in chief, and CEO. In addition to his writing and editing duties, he helped develop the company from a newspaper publisher to a multimedia company. Nowadays, he writes about the intersection of technology, innovation and governance strategy.
Summary
The world's industrial and economic principles are shifting. Three major transitions are underway: towards the use of alternative energy sources, towards carbon-neutral and sustainable production, and towards digitalized manufacture and distribution. This book explores how these transitions are taking place in Europe.
