The conference has two objectives: First, to take stock of the recent contributions on the knowledge economy and identify the building blocks of national and European strategies to promote innovation-based growth; and second, to develop an operational approach to EU, national and regional research and innovation policies in the context of the emerging European Research Area.

Plenary sessions will address the following topics:
- innovation and growth in the knowledge-based economy: the challenge to Europe;
- new innovation practices and global networks;
- promoting excellence in research and development: interactions between public and private investments;
- multi-level innovation policies: the contribution of the European Research Area;
- promoting research and development and excellence in Europe: an integrated and open approach.