2 On a more general note, there are other signs of a worse innovation performance of average EU countries compared to the U.S.. The European Commission, under the Lisbon Strategy, has been monitoring the innovation performance of the EU Member States, compared to other countries, for a number of years.
Innovation performance is summarised in a composite indicator, called Summary Innovation Index, which includes inputs ranging from the structural conditions required for innovation and investment in R&D activities, to measures of results achieved in terms of successful know-how.