The following facts and figures give a general overview of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation:

The official website of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation spreads news on relevant events taking place during 2009 and serves as a platform for access to projects.

The European Year of Creativity and Innovation has the objective to raise awareness of importance of creativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development, to disseminate good practices, stimulate education and research, and promote policy debate and development.

Creativity and innovation contribute to economic prosperity as well as to social and individual wellbeing.

The European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 activities are aimed in particular at young people, educators, companies and policy makers as well as the general public. Civil society is encouraged to mobilise and get involved at European, national and local levels.

• At EU level, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture is the responsible body for the implementation of EYCI 2009, in association with the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry. Other Directorate Generals such as DG AGRICULTURE and DG COMMUNICATION also undertake relevant activities of the Year. The European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions as well as the Economic and Social Committee also contribute to the campaign through the implementation of various relevant activities.
• In each EU Member State, a national coordinator, usually a representative of the Ministry of Culture and/or Education, is responsible for the coordination of the implementation of the Year at a national level.

EYCI 2009 takes place within the overall framework of several EU policy initiatives fostering Creativity and Innovation. These include amongst others the following:

• the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on key competences for lifelong learning
• the Council Resolution the new skills for new jobs
• the broad based innovation strategy for the EU
• the Council Resolution the new skills for new jobs
• Open Method for Coordination in Education and Training
• the European agenda for culture in a globalizing world

For further information please check the official documents of the Year.