The European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 was an initiative of the European Parliament and of the Council which focused on the importance of creativity in private and public life. It aimed to raise awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development; to disseminate good practices; to stimulate education and research, and to promote policy debate on related issues.

The most successful economies today are based on knowledge. Knowledge-based economies are operated by creative and innovative people. With the Year we wanted to show how knowledge moves economies.

The specific objective for 2009 was to promote creativity and innovation as a key factor in the personal, occupational, entrepreneurial and social spheres. All forms of learning (formal, non-formal and informal) would have a role in achieving the objectives. Most important is to shape an environment which is favourable for innovation, e.g. through formal education: broaden access and reduce disparities to creative forms of self-expression, and promote key competences.

It is also important to stimulate personal psychological development from the earliest stages of life, both for emotional and aesthetic development and to facilitate further learning. Young people should be aware how important creativity, knowledge and flexibility are to their personal and career development in an era of rapid change.

Creativity and innovation contribute to economic success. Closer ties are needed between artists, business people, schools and universities. Public and private organisations themselves can enhance their performance by developing their employees' creativity.

The Year addressed a wide spectrum of related themes such as:

• fostering artistic and other forms of creativity through pre-school, primary and secondary education including vocational streams, as well as non-formal and informal education
• maintaining engagement with creative forms of self-expression throughout adult life
• cultural diversity as a source of creativity and innovation
• information and communication technologies as media for creative self-expression
• ensuring that mathematics, science and technological studies promote an active, innovative mindset
• developing a wider understanding of the innovation process and a more entrepreneurial attitude as prerequisites for continued prosperity
• promoting innovation as the route to sustainable development
• regional and local development strategies based on creativity and innovation
• cultural and creative industries including design – where the aesthetic and the economic coincide
• innovation in public and private services.

Information on the European Year of Creativity and Innovation in Europe: http://create2009.europa.eu

Information on the European Year of Creativity and Innovation in Hungary: www.kreativitas2009.hu