URENIO URBAN AND REGIONAL INNOVATION Research Unit Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Faculty of Engineering Thessaloniki Tel: and Fax: and Url:

Urban and Regional Innovation research unit is a University Lab for the promotion of applied research, and the supply of scientific and technological services. URENIO is mainly involved in competitive projects of the European R&D framework programmes and the innovative actions of the ERDF. Research collaboration UNIVERSITIES & RESEARCH INSTITUTES CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN; DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY; FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY; PANTEION UNIVERSITY; RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE OF MAASTRICHT; TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CRETE; TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MILAN; UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER; UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF TOULOUSE; UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY; UNIVERSITY OF WALES, CARDIFF TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATIONS ANDALUSIA TECHNOLOGY PARK ; ARCHIMEDES, ESTONIA; CENTRO SVILUPO, AOSTA; FUNDACION LABEIN; FUNDECYT, EXTREMADURA; JOSEF STEFAN INSTITUTE, SLOVENIA; INFYDE, BILBAO; INSTITUT JULES DESTRE; KENT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTRE; LEIA TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, ALAVA; PRONOVUM, HUNGARY; SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK, CRETE; STEINBEIS FOUNDATION, STUTTGART; TAGUS TECHNOLOGY PARK; TALOS, CYPRUS; TECH TIROL, LOWER AUSTRIA; TECHNOLOGY PARK OULU; TEKES FINLAND; THESSALONIKI PARK THESSALONIKI; ZENIT, MULHEIM REGIONAL AUTHORITIES BASQUE COUNTRY; CENTRAL MACEDONIA; IONIAN ISLANDS; NORTH RHIN WESTFALIA; LORRAINE; MANTOVA; SOUTHERN AEGEAN; SW OLTENIA, ROMANIA; THESSALY; WALES; W. MACEDONIA

URENIO's research focuses on cities and regions that base their development on R&D, innovation, knowledge-intensive companies, technology infrastructure, knowledge and information networks. Central research theme is the cities, regions, and environments of innovation including (1) knowledge clusters, technopoles and science parks, (2) regional innovations systems and strategies, (3) digital innovation spaces, digital cities, and intelligent cities. We are working on planning models for innovative areas (districts, technopoles, RIS-regions), on models of innovation processes (spin- offs, producer-supplier relations, technology co-operation, new product development), and digital spaces supporting innovation practices and policies. Research

Cities and regions of innovation Islands of innovation Knowledge clusters Science and technology parks Micro-cosmos of innovation Digital cities Digital innovation spaces Online innovation tools Virtual communities Physical components Regional systems of innovation Regional innovation strategies Learning networks Technopolitan planning Planning clusters and tech districts Research Field 1: Cities, regions, and environments of innovation Digital components Institutional components

Research Field 2: Clusters, technopoles and science parks This research topic covers projects dealing with the development and planning of clusters, technology poles, science and technology parks, innovation centres, incubators, and business networks and innovation. Most of this research stands on ‘industrial district’, and ‘flexible specialization’, theories. Andalusia Technology Park Innovation Centre Belice, Italy Science Park, Technical Univ. Crete Science Park, Democritus Univ. Thrace Industrial Districts and System- areas in Greece

Research Field 3: Regional innovations systems and strategies This research orientation focuses on the initiatives of European regions to develop innovation strategies and systems, and the creation of regional competitive advantage based on knowledge and technological learning. Participation in 20 RIS/RITTS and ERDF Innovative Action Programs.

Research Field 4: Virtual Innovation Environment/ Intelligent cities and regions This topic focuses on the use of information technology to create virtual / digital innovation spaces. We are working on the development of virtual islands of innovation, such as research centres, technology parks, industrial districts, and knowledge-based clusters. Digital Tech Park Digital Research Centre

SERVICES

People The permanent staff of URENIO is 20 people and external contract research involves 15 to 50 people per year. Qualifications of the permanent staff cover: Urban and regional planning Electrical and electronic engineering Chemical engineering Information technology Sociology and economics Applied mathematics and statistics

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