The European Commission (EC) has made a bold move to improve Europe's competitiveness and create an environment conducive to innovation with the launch of Innovation Union. Part of the Europe 2020 initiative for recovery from the recession and economic growth over the next decade, the program, announced October 6, aims to “boost the whole innovation chain from 'research to retail',” says Mark English, spokesperson for the Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science in Brussels. The EC is calling on member states to spend 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) on R&D by 2020, a hike from the current 1.9% of GDP. Europe is the largest market in the world, but its policies and support for R&D remain fragmented. The EC is proposing to boost cooperation across borders, among companies, and between private and public sectors. Plans to adopt a single EU patent system, and provide tax incentives and legislation that will allow venture capital funds to invest freely anywhere in the EU are also part of the Innovation Union's commitments. Monika Wcislo, press officer for Research, Innovation and Science, notes that funding is not earmarked for particular sectors so they expect the impact to be widespread. “[Innovation Union] will generate more R&D, more startups and more major EU companies with the potential to be international players,” says English.