Education systems play a broad role in supporting innovation because knowledge-based societies rely on a highly qualified and flexible labour force in all sectors of the economy and society. Innovation requires the capacity to continually learn and upgrade skills.

High graduation rates at university level indicate a country’s capacity to develop a highly skilled labour force. Increasing the number of students who enter and successfully complete a university programme requires efficient and flexible higher education systems. The cost and duration of studies and the lack of bridges between university and work may prompt students to leave their studies before graduation to enter the labour market.

Doctoral graduates have attained the highest education level and are key players in research and innovation. They have been specifically trained to conduct research and are considered the best qualified to create and diffuse knowledge.

Getting people to the labour market is crucial to foster innovation, economic growth and social well-being. Ensuring the right balance between specific labour market needs and generic competencies is a challenge faced today by higher education institutions around the world.

Mobility – and in particular international mobility – of skilled human resources plays an important role in innovation. It contributes to the creation and diffusion of knowledge, particularly tacit knowledge, which is more effectively shared within a common social and geographical context. Coherent and efficient migration regimes help making the most of brain circulation.

Entrepreneurship provides an expanded set of employment opportunities, wider skill development and greater opportunities to innovate. Entrepreneurship education plays a key role by raising awareness about entrepreneurship as a potential career path and developing skills for starting and growing companies.

For any organisation, an important source of continuing productivity growth is effective management of the organisation of work and ensuring that the talents of individuals are being tapped. Innovative capabilities are strengthened in work places which provide a fertile environment for innovation. Better measures are needed of the skills required and of ways in which the workplace promotes such skills.

Enabled by new technologies, users and consumers play a growing role in the innovation process and can directly influence innovation and encourage the development of new technologies.