©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 1

EU regional innovation policies: the experience of the IRE Network

Valencia, 12th December 2002Jaime Moll de Alba, IRC-IRE Central Unit

Innovating Regions in Europe network

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Innovating Regions in Europe: contents

Contents

• Rationale and objectives• Policy context • Members• Projects• Achievements• New Projects• Future • Central Unit services

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Innovating Regions in Europe: objectives

Rationale & objectives of the IRE Network

• Key role of local and regional governments widely acknowledged

• Set up in 1994 by the European Commission • Exchange of experience• Trans-regional projects• Show-case of good practices• Fostering of innovation

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Innovating Regions in Europe: context

Policy context

• Lisbon European Council

• Communication on Innovation

• Communication ’The Regions in the New Economy’

• Communication ’The Regional Dimension of ERA’

• Communication ’Towards 3% of GDP’

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Innovating Regions in Europe: members

~ 200 regions

EEA + NAC

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Innovating Regions in Europe: projects

ProjectsProject Completed On-going

Regional strategies

RIS, RITTS

RIS+

RIS NACs

Innovative

Actions

Trans-regional

co-operation

TRIP

Thematic Networks

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Innovating Regions in Europe: projects

Development and implementation of regional innovation strategies

• RITTS (70)• RIS/RTP (33) • RIS+ (25)

• Trans-Regional Innovation Projects (11)

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Innovating Regions in Europe: projects

Key characteristics of regional innovation strategies

• Demand-led initiative

• Consensus-building project

• Optimisation of the RTDI infrastructure

• Action-oriented exercise

• Monitoring process

• European dimension

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Innovating Regions in Europe: achievements

Achievements of regional innovation strategies

• Move towards strategic thinking

• Creation of a regional dialogue

• Introduction of a broader concept of innovation

• Rationalisation of the innovation support infrastructure

• Mainstream into the Structural Funds

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Innovating Regions in Europe: projects

Reasons behind diverse achievements

• Regional capacity

• Economic conditions• RTDI conditions• Institutional capacity

• Driving force

• Previous experience of strategy• Legitimacy and political backing of project driver • Openness and inclusiveness

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Innovating Regions in Europe: open projects

On-going projects

• RIS-NACs

• IRE Thematic Networks

• ERDF Innovative Actions

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Innovating Regions in Europe: RIS NACs

RIS NACs: objectives

16 projects covering 10 NACs

• Development of innovation systems in Accession Countries using a mentoring approach

• Strengthen co-operation across Europe

• Foster regional and economic cohesion

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Innovating Regions in Europe: TNs

IRE Thematic Networks: objectives

• Facilitation of exchange of experiences and ideas

• Fostering inter-regional collaboration

• Development of innovation support measures

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Innovating Regions in Europe: TNs

IRE Thematic Networks

• Development of clusters• Exploitation of research• Entrepreneurship• Creation of new ventures• IMTs• Innovation in Large Metropolitan Areas• Innovation in the agri-food sector• Support to RIS NACs • Cross-border co-operation

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Innovating Regions in Europe: PRAI

ERDF Innovative Actions 2000 - 06

EU support for regional programmes to experiment innovative methods and practices

Three strands:

• Technological innovation• Information society• Sustainable development

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Innovating Regions in Europe: Network

IRE Network

• Inter-regional learning

• Promotion of good practice

• Trans-regional co-operation

• Exchange of tools

• Foster innovation

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Innovating Regions in Europe: FP6

Regional innovation under FP6Specific Programme ”Structuring the European Research Area”, heading ”Research and Innovation”, six actions

• Co-operation among regions• Networking• New tools and approaches• Information and assistance• Economic and technogical intelligence• Analyses and evaluation

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Innovating Regions in Europe: CU services

IRC-IRE Central Unit activities

• Advice and technical support

• Transnationality

• Training and guidelines

• Promotion

• Follow-up of regional innovation strategies

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Innovating Regions in Europe: innovation portal

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Innovating Regions in Europe

IRC-IRE Central Unit

Tel: +352 441012 2256Fax: +352 441012 2055e-mail: j.moll@irc-ire.luhttp//www.innovating-regions.org