1. ROLE OF CITIES SUPPORTING INNOVATION
Jaanus Vahesalu
Manager of International Projects

2. INTRODUCTION Innovation questionnaire Objective:
- to develop some discussion points on the role of cities in supporting innovation to move towards economic recovery
- to share experiences of supporting innovation and find out best practices to present during EDF meeting
34 cities participating, 12 responses received
- Belfast, Edinburgh, Gijon, Hague, Helsinki, Nuremburg, Poznan, Prague, Rotterdam, San Sebastian, Sunderland, Vienna

3. How do cities support innovation?
Different initiatives and development programmes
- provision of facilities for start-up and growth, coaching, access to research, finance and markets
e.g CREA project (Gijon), Forum Virium (Helsinki)
- clustering projects
e.g ICT cluster (Poznan, Tallinn)
- sectoral programmes
e.g Software City (Sunderland), CI Development Programme (Belfast)
- redevelopment of business premises for innovative companies
e.g Caballero Factory for CI (the Hague)
- test beds for companies
e.g Living Labs (Helsinki)
- venture capital funds
e.g Erasmus MC Biomedical Fund (Rotterdam)
- public procurements
e.g Rotterdam Sustainable City, e-services (Tallinn)

4. Strategic approach towards innovation
Few cities have their local innovation strategies, support of innovation is described more or less in local/regional Strategic Plans or Local Economic Development Plans
Close involvement of cities in the development of local competence centre, technology or science parks and clusters, as:
- founder or partner
- (co-)financer or the project or development activities
- facilitator between private companies and universities
Cities, who have drafted an economic recovery plan (e.g Rotterdam, Belfast, Tallinn), have focused some measures directly to innovation (e.g investments into energy-saving technologies, digitalization, redevelopment of brownfield areas etc)
Funding
- regional or local budgets
- European funds: INTERREG, ERDF, ESF

5. How should public sector intervene to foster innovation?
Support clustering, networks
Provide funding for companies (for product development, patents, trainings, etc)
Use more public procurement as a tool for innovation
Provide funding for universities (attract talents, support R&D)
Create a venture capital fund for innovative projects
Special incentives for migrant workers

6. E-mail: jaanus.vahesalu@tallinnlv.ee
THANK YOU!
ettevotja.tallinn.ee