Indicators and tools for innovation
in support for the last two functions rather than the first. However, the interest we currently meet is strongly motivated by the search for tools that support identification and formulation of innovation demand. 6 CONCLUSION Current policy development in the EU has shifted towards a strong focus on research, development and innovation. The European Commission underlines the crucial role of research. The aim is to make Europe more resilient in the face of transformation due to global pressures and long-term challenges such as pressure on resources, ageing and globalisation. Technology development for complex issues such as required for a sustainable development is crucial for planning the future of European regions. Our objective was to provide planners with a tool for invention assessment that can be applied support innovation brokers to find applicable development options and to allocate resources efficiently and effectively. We set out to explore the value of online based e-participation platform to structure the process of innovation development and to improve the collaborative process by making it more transparent and comprehensible to the actors involved. We conclude that the e-participation platform we developed can in its current form be set up to suit an innovation process by providing a sheltered room for cross-sector communication. The main advantages are seen in the platform as a tool to ensure interoperability between all actors involved. We believe that the application of the e-participation platform can contribute to the understanding of innovation processes and thus to help close the innovation gap between research and practice.
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