Project part-financed by the European Union Aligning Metropolitan Innovation Strategies for the Common Good of the Baltic Sea Region Mr. Pekka Sauri Deputy Mayor of Helsinki Seminar ”Boosting Innovation through Metropolitan Partnership” at Brussels Open Days, 9 Oct 2007 Project part-financed by the European Union

Baltic Metropolises Innovation Strategy BaltMet Inno project Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B project Duration: 1 January 2005 – 31 December, 2007 Budget: MEUR 2.6 14 partners from Berlin, Copenhagen, Malmö, Helsinki, Riga, Stockholm, Tallinn and St. Petersburg, 3 observers (Oslo, Warsaw, Vilnius) City of Helsinki is the Lead Partner (LP), Culminatum is the project coordinator Flagship project of BaltMet network

The Baltic Sea Archipelago of Innovation rests on four pillars: A strategy and a governance regime positioning the Baltic Sea with its competences in science and technology-based innovation – as a polycentric and diversified innovation archipelago – at the top of the innovation chain A communication framework to be used in branding the region and strengthening its identity A selected portfolio of well connected, globally competitive science and technology clusters supported by creative environments An innovation and entrepreneuship (I&E) infrastructure based on a set of qualified innovation competences and skills, and supported by a portfolio of I&E support programs and instruments

Aligning Innovation Strategies in Baltic Metropolises The main goals: Improved quality and coordination of local and regional innovation strategies and related strategy processes in the Baltic Metropolises and between them Inclusion of BSR focused, transnationally complementary elements in the innovation strategies of Baltic Metropolises Achievement of economics of scale as well as economies of scope between the Baltic Metropolises

Starting point: Very few metropolitan innovation strategies existed Three different cases: Local: The Innovation Strategy – Helsinki Metropolitan Area Regional: The Coherent Innovation Strategy (Berlin Senate) National: The Latvian Innovation System – Strategy and Action Plan 2005- 2010

strategies at national, regional and local level Existing or planned innovation and related strategies at national, regional and local level City National Regional Local BER Innovation Report and Action Plan (Berlin Senate, 2003) The Coherent Innovation Strategy (2005) The Quadriga Project (2005) CPH The Danish Growth Strategy The Danish Knowledge Strategy Action plan for Public-private Partnership on Innovation etc. 'Growth Forum' (from 2007) Strategy for Øresund Region cooperation (?) Strategy and action plan for the business environment HEL Knowledge, innovation and internationalisation (Science and Technology Council) Building on innovation - Priorities for the future (Tekes) Competitive Innovation Environment Development Programme (Sitra) Innovation Strategy – Helsinki Metropolitan Area (2005) Business Development Strategies of cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa International strategy of the City of Helsinki (forthcoming) MLM Innovative Sweden – A strategy for growth through renewal (City of Malmö Development plan) RIG National Concept on Innovation National Innovation Program The Latvian Innovation System – Strategy and Action Plan 2005-2010 RIS – the Latvian innovation system Strategy and action plan 2005-2010 Development plan of Riga City (forthcoming) TLN Knowledge-based Estonia, the Estonian Research and Development Strategy 2002-2006 Estonian Regional Innovation Strategy ERIS project (ongoing) City of Tallinn Strategy STO Regional Development Plan 2001 RTP - Regional Growth Program Business Development Strategy (?) WAW Warsaw development strategy

Helsinki example on creating and managing a metropolitan innovation strategy (2003-2007) POLITICAL INITIATIVE MADE Lord Mayor of Helsinki called together Helsinki Club of leading policymakers PROJECT ESTABLISHED Regional development agency Culminatum Ltd, Oy launched the project. HIGH PROFILE CHAMPIONS INVOLVED Six special subject teams dealt with the topics: (1) the role of the cities (2) development platforms (3) seed financing (4) creative sectors (5) the technology centre concept (6) Helsinki Region as an international setting for education and research. REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED More than one hundred influential people were interviewed in the Helsinki Region STRATEGY LAUNCHED WITH SHARED VISION AND SET GOALS IMPLEMENTATION NEW STRATGEY PROCESS STARTED

The main results of BaltMet Inno: Analysis of existing innovation strategies and strategy processes Local innovation strategy drafts for two of the participating cities, Riga and Tallinn ”Handbook” for designing a local innovation strategy for a metropolitan area Surveys made on innovation in public procurement and planning as well as design of innovation infrastructure and creative environments

How can complementary innovation structures be achieved across the borders? Challenges Different roles and resources of local/regional level with regard to innovation policy Differences in R&D spending Varying level of innovation awareness Competition between regions

Future Prospects Joint governance of innovation related strategies is necessary for the pursuit of a prosperous Baltic Sea. Thus, the collaboration should be seen as a “partnership for growth” - a contractual framework between metropolitan parties pursuing the same goals, and having specified and joint rights and responsibilities. BaltMet partnership for growth, is an instrument for joint strategies and policies at the European level, allowing partner regions to choose their own priorities and level of cooperation. Discussion on concerete co-operation cases has already started.

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