DOCUMENTS AND FAQs
Documents from EPSI
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why the European Platform for Sport Innovation?
Sport is beneficial to both health and social relationships, but its economic significance is growing. A 2012 study calculated that the direct effects of sport, combined with its multiplier effects, added up to 3% (294.36 billions of euros) of overall gross value added in the EU. Sport, in its different forms, is identified as driver for economic growth and it is embedded with sectors such as tourism, health and transport. For the EU as a whole, total employment generated by sport activities is 7.3 millions and is equivalent to 3.5% of total EU employment.
As a relatively new sector, sport is generally regarded as being an early adopter of new ideas and innovations. Sport can help specific business sectors to develop, depending on the characteristics of sport demand and supply in a specific country.
To prevent separate and similar developments in different countries, a strong need has arisen to team up the initiatives on a more European level and improve trans-national visibility on research and business creation. The main bottlenecks and limits to research, development and innovation in the EU sports market are:
- Fragmentation of research (technology and human factors) and the insufficiency of targeted research;
- Limited research and innovative power;
- Lack of a long-term vision for innovation;
- Insufficient new business creation;
- Too great a focus on national rather than European approaches in R&D.
Who is eligible to join the European Platform for Sport Innovation ?
Any party that delivers a contribution to innovation in the sports eco-system may join the platform – manufacturers, research organisations, representative organisations, business facilitators, etc. More information about membership and membership conditions can be found here.
Why should I join the European Platform for Sport Innovation?
The European Platform for Sport Innovation is our main instrument for exchanging information on innovation in the European sports eco-system, for example to generate ideas for new innovation projects. Also new trends and news on innovation, showcases of success stories – projects, innovations and initiatives, etc – will be exchanged within the platform. We will organise seminars, brokerage events, congresses and develop innovation projects. But we will also need a critical mass to support initiatives we present to the EU commission. This is important in our lobby to create more attention and scope for projects on sports innovation in European research programmes.
How can I join the European Platform for Sport Innovation?
EPSI is a membership organisations. Requests for membership should be addressed through the EPSI website (see here). You can join the European Platform of Sport Innovation by filling in a membership application form. For this we need to know:
- The contact person within your organisation
- Your organisation’s profile
- The role of your organisation in the sports eco-system
- The interest of your organisation in specific topics and issues within the platform
- The willingness of your organisation to play an active role in the platform
EPSI board of directors will assess candidate applications and revert back promptly.