Research Policy Network (RPNs)

Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Years active: May 2025

Project lead

Philippe Aghion

Professor Collège De France; The Kurt Björklund Chaired Professor in Innovation and Growth Insead; Visiting Professor London School Of Economics And Political Science

CEPR’s new Research and Policy Group on Growth, Innovation and the Social Model aims to provide cutting-edge analysis and actionable policy insights to support a renewed European growth agenda. The group will explore how Europe can harness breakthrough innovation—from digital technologies to green industrial transformation—to drive productivity and competitiveness, while safeguarding the core principles of its social model. By bringing together leading scholars and policymakers, the initiative will address the institutional, financial, and regulatory conditions needed to scale innovation, reduce inequality, and ensure that growth remains inclusive, sustainable, and democratically anchored.

The urgency of this agenda was underlined in the 2024 Draghi report, which warned that Europe is falling behind in productivity and technological leadership, threatening both economic dynamism and strategic autonomy. Without stronger growth, Europe risks eroding the fiscal base needed to sustain its social protections—and weakening its capacity to respond to new challenges in defence, energy security, and geopolitical competition. Reinvigorating innovation-led growth is thus not only an economic imperative but also a political one, essential to preserving Europe's values and agency in a rapidly changing world.

Steering Committee

Antonin Bergeaud

Associate Professor in the Economic Department Hec Paris; Research Affiliate at the Centre for Economic Performance London School Of Economics And Political Science

Xavier Jaravel

Professor of Economics London School Of Economics And Political Science

Monika Schnitzer

Full Professor in the Department of Economics Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU)

John Van Reenen

Director of the Programme on Innovation and Productivity and Ronald Coase School Professor London School Of Economics And Political Science; Digital Fellow Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

RPN Members

Céline Antonin

Senior Economist Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Michèle Belot

Frances Perkins Professor of Industrial and Labor Relations and Professor of Economics Cornell University

Timo Boppart

Associate Professor Associate Professor, Institute for International Economic Studies Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University; Professor for International Economics University Of St Gallen; Professor in Macroeconomics and Political Economy University Of Zurich

Simon Bunel

Economist Banque De France

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Pierre Cahuc

Professor of Economics Sciences Po Paris

Chiara Criscuolo

Principal Economist International Finance Corporation

Gaétan de Rassenfosse

Associate Professor Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL)

Maarten De Ridder

Assistant Professor London School Of Economics And Political Science

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

David Dorn

UBS Foundation Professor of Globalization and Labor Markets University Of Zurich

Antonio Fatás

Vice President Centre for Economic Policy Research; Professor of Economics Insead; Professor of Economics

Fellow, Macroeconomics and Growth / RPN Member, Fintech and Digital Currencies / CEPR Vice President / RPN Steering Committee, Ageing and Longevity / RPN Member, Ageing and Longevity / RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

John Fernald

Senior Research Adviser for International Economics (on leave) Federal Reserve Bank Of San Francisco; Schroders Chaired Professor of European Competitiveness and Reform and Professor of Economics Insead

Dietmar Harhoff

Director at the Research Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Honorary Professor Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU); Managing Director Max Planck Institute For Innovation And Competition

David Hémous

Assistant Professor of Economics Insead; Associate Professor University Of Zurich

William Janeway

University Of Cambridge

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Laura Khoury

Assistant professor University Paris-Dauphine, PSL

Thomas Le Barbanchon

Associate Professor Bocconi University

Francesca Lotti

Director, Structural Economics Direcorate, DG Economics, Statistics and Research Bank Of Italy

Benjamin Moll

Sir John Hicks Professor of Economics London School Of Economics And Political Science

Morten Olsen

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Roland Rathelot

Professor Polytechnic Institute of Paris

Dimitrije Ruzic

Assistant Professor of Economics Insead

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Sara Signorelli

CREST - Institut Polytechnique Paris

RPN Member, Growth, Innovation and Social Model in Europe

Daphne Skandalis

Assistant Professor University Of Copenhagen

Otto Toivanen

Professor Aalto University School of Business; Academic Director Helsinki Graduate School Of Economics

Reinhilde Veugelers

Senior Fellow Bruegel; Professor of Managerial Economics, Strategy and Innovation Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Senior Fellow Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE)

Fabian Waldinger

Professor of Economics Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU)

Upcoming events

Conference

CEPR Paris Symposium

CEPR Paris Symposium 2025

5 Dec 2025 - 10 Dec 2025 in Paris, France