It shall also pursue a broad approach to innovation ranging from technological, non-technological, organisational, economic and social innovation to, for instance, ways for technology transfer, novel business models, branding and services.

promote multidisciplinary approaches to innovation, including the integration of technological, social and non-technological solutions, organisational approaches and new business models; ";

While technological innovation is important, there is at least as much scope for non-technological innovation, for example through changes in business models, better design and process organisation.

(10) Technological innovation should not be hampered by granting design protection to features dictated solely by a technical function.

Technological innovation should not be hampered by granting design protection to features dictated solely by a technical function.

(14) Whereas technological innovation should not be hampered by granting design protection to features dictated solely by a technical function; whereas it is understood that this does not entail that a design must have an aesthetic quality; whereas, likewise, the interoperability of products of different makes should not be hindered by extending protection to the design of mechanical fittings; whereas features of a design which are excluded from protection for these reasons should not be taken into consideration for the purpose of assessing whether other features of the design fulfil the requirements for protection;