Over the past two decades, the European Commission has set out to create one of the best competitive knowledge-based economies in the world. This is extremely important, especially given the increasing economic productivity of countries such as China. They know better than anyone how to invest in a rapid information supply that provides knowledge productivity and is simultaneously a good foundation for innovation. Why then shouldn’t we use an affordable service like InfoNet to make a contribution to the knowledge-based economy via its extensive network coverage in Europe?

Knowledge as main export item

Since the 1990’s, it has become increasingly clear that the key ingredient for a strong economy is knowledge. Knowledge for innovation and for further educating people. But also knowledge about new technological products for sales and knowledge to make the production process less expensive and more profitable. In particular, it is already clear that Far Eastern countries update and/or replace products quickly, whereby they can work more cheaply and efficiently and quite simply out-compete the Western world. Skilled employees are one of the key success factors for this. In the results of the ALL survey, it also emerges that, functional literacy levels in Europe are still quite high and investment is needed. Amongst functionally literate and unskilled or semi-skilled individuals, there is namely a huge potential that can still contribute to our knowledge-based economy and that is where the task for InfoNet now lies.

InfoNet as source of innovation and strategy

The European InfoNet network has a correspondent in virtually every European country. On average, all these correspondents write an article 6 times a year about new strategies and innovations in the areas of schooling and training for adults. In so doing, they provide a tremendous amount of knowledge about how vulnerable groups (like unskilled/semi-skilled and functionally literate individuals) can still be guided to the employment market and make a contribution to the knowledge-based economy. In other words, input for innovation and efficiency in adult training and education in order to combat unemployment and enhance the knowledge-based economy.

A sustainable solution for a competitive knowledge-based economy

With its extensive European network coverage, InfoNet contributes to knowledge productivity by educating people and improving their position in the job market. This is the only way we can bridge the gap between un/semi-skilled and skilled individuals and boost our knowledge-based economy. Then we in Europe will once again be strong competition for countries like China during periods of economic crisis. Comparatively speaking, the cost of maintaining the network is insignificant given the tremendous number of correspondents and the scope of its coverage in Europe. A judicious task for the European Commission so that in part, it achieves its targets with regard to innovation and improved efficiency in the realms of training and schooling in Europe (in connection with the Lisbon Agenda). A large network, relatively low-cost and which capitalises on the European agenda and can itself actually be implemented for assignments from the European Commission. That is why it would be a missed opportunity not to do it: InfoNet use it, don’t loose it!

Maurice de Greef (Researcher, Maastricht University & VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it