RIS LAUNCH CONFERENCE Ljublijana, June 6, 2005 Gains of the RIS West Romania Process throughout the IRE Secretariat Support Raluca CIBU-BUZAC Head of International Relations and Investments Department, RDA West Romania

West Region Pioneer of regional innovation in Romania RIS West project co-financed by the European Commission, DG Enterprise Regional awareness on the importance of introducing the concepts related to innovation into the mainstream economic development; Development of a regional consensus on the investment priorities in the field of RTDI; Increase in the level of innovation within West Region, through the strengthening of the SMEs; Increase of the innovative potential in terms of human resources.

Regional innovation and Regional development in Romania Strategic objectives are included in the Regional Development Plan Partial financing from the Phare ESC Programme (components like SMEs, Human Resources etc. Partial financing from the RELANSIN Programme of the Ministry for Education and Research – Regional Operation Programme and the Structural Funds

Regional Innovation Strategy West – Process RIS PartnershipStudy visitsInternationalisationCommunicationEvents Diagnosis of RTDI and business environment

Regional Innovation Strategy West – Structure AREA 1: Innovation and TT Support Infrastructure AREA 2: Innovative Projects in Enterprises AREA 3: Human Resources AREA 4: Innovation Culture

Regional Innovation Strategy West – Impact of the support provided by the IRE Secretariat 1.IRE Workshops and Seminars 2.IRE Study visits 3.IRE Promotional materials 4.IRE Info Point 5.IRE Partner search service 6.IRE Website

IRE Workshops and Seminars (I) Remarkable learning instruments At European level they stand as top methods of knowledge and experience transfer Excellent choice of key speakers and valuable success stories to share Important interaction component (targeted case studies, debates, questions and answers etc.) Can bring actual solutions to project managers

IRE Workshops and Seminars (II) Stage 0 PARTNER network Kick-off Conference, Prague – April 2002 Hosting of the 1 st PARTNER network Methodological Workshop, Timisoara – May 2002 PARTNER network Kick-off 2 nd Methodological workshop, Bratislava – October 2002

IRE Workshops and Seminars (III) Stage 1 PARTNER network Final Conference, Budapest – 8-9 December 2003 RIS Information Day, Piatra-Neamt – 17 October 2003 Stage 2 RIS Information Day, Bucharest – 16 February 2004 Workshop on “Innovation Financing”, Prague – November 2004

IRE Study Visits (I) Tailor made learning visit for the beneficiary region Possibility to choose the specific topics of interest IRE Secretariat is in charge with the overall organisation of the visit Excellent instrument for international co- operation and project development

IRE Study Visits (II) Lessons learnt from the study visit to Saxony-Anhalt, March 2003 Good practices in metallurgical sector and mining sector Project implementation strategies, including networking and planning in time Promoting similar infrastructures and management scenarios at regional level Ecologisation of industrial sites

IRE Promotional Materials Disseminated during the Annual Regional Innovation Forums and sectorial / thematic workshops of the RIS project Sent out to regional partners by post on a periodic basis (Steering Committee, working groups etc.) Mostly used publications: IRE Newsletter, IRE Journal, leaflets

IRE Info Point Accessed for the purpose of documentation and definition of pilot projects, as well as pioneer initiatives at the regional level Fast and quality service Topics addressed: Foreign Direct Investments, instruments and solutions for the financing of innovation at regional level, innovation and TT infrastructures examples in Europe, RIS processes in Central and Eastern European context etc.

IRE Partner Search Service Extremely efficient tool for international project development Examples of requests from RDA West: Innovation Action Plan for Industrial Restructuring Techimpulse (Regional Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer) RIS impact assessment

IRE Website Extensive platform for documentation, learning, new contacts, expertise – actually a huge knowledge base at hand Key help in the elaboration of the RIS Action Plan of West Region Romania Frequently consulted domains: Network Directory Regional Innovation Strategies Library Communication Working Group member !

Gains for new RIS projects throughout accessing the IRE Secretariat Services Gains for new RIS projects throughout accessing the IRE Secretariat Services Direct and efficient communication with a high professional team Direct and guided access to a large pool of theoretical and practical expertise and experience Among the most extended networks of regions, probably worldwide Support for specific needs, depending on the stage of the process or the topic

Gains for new RIS projects throughout accessing the IRE Secretariat Services Gains for new RIS projects throughout accessing the IRE Secretariat Services “brand” relevance – “family” of regions, reference point Increased legitimacy of the process within your region Resources at hand (administrative, human) Promotion of regional achievements Strong international exchanges, permanent learning