1. the 2016 Science meets Regions project
An account from
the 2016 Science meets Regions project
Brussels, November 29th 2017

2. Background information
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region:
is located in the North-East of Italy and has a population of 1.2 mln people;
is characterized by an advanced network of scientific institutions, researching about physics, material sciences, pharmacology, ICT, genomics, chemistry, nanotechnologies, bioinformatics, geophysics, oceanography;
takes part in two EU macro regional strategies: Adriatic-Ionic (EUSAIR) and Alpine region (EUSALP);
has been appointed as Reference Site within the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP-AHA) in 2016;
Is member of the Covenant on Demographic Change.

3. The involvement of the Scientific Institutions
An agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Research was signed in 2016 with the aim to enhance the Scientific System of Friuli Venezia Giulia through:
Creation of a “network of scientific excellence” in order to strengthen the capacity of action, attractiveness and international competitiveness of the International and National Scientific Institutions;
Rationalisation of regional research structures;
Promotion and internationalisation of the research centres;
Sharing technologies and innovation.
Thanks to this agreement the Region could sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) which contributed to the appointment of Trieste as 2020 European Capital of Science (ESOF)

4. 2016 Science Meets Regions where: Trieste (IT);
when: October 18th 2016
who:
Joint Research Centre in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and the Regional legislative assembly
National research institutions, international centres from UNESCO and UNIDO, international laboratories of excellence, universities (16 scientific institutions took active part in the initiative)
why: implementation of the Regional law 22/2014 concerning the promotion of active aging in the fields of:
what: the Active Healthy Ageing, declined in:
Health
Technologies
Human and social capital

5. Policy guidelines identified
Health
Genetic, epigenetic, molecular and cellular studies;
Diagnosis and therapies linked to ageing;
Monitoring and evaluation, contrast to health conditions, early diagnosis.
Technology
Inclusive technologic environment;
Facilitative technologies (KETs);
Nanotechnologies for health;
Information and communication technologies.
Social and human capital
Health of elderly people;
Sociability and healthy lifestyle, intergenerational exchange;
Inter-sectorial training;
Integrated approach.

6. The Active Ageing Charter
Among the strong points of the Region is the healthy and active ageing, which has been linked to the areas of specialisation of the regional S3 and its development areas – such as Smart Health.
The Active ageing charter encompasses the principles and methodologies of Science Meets Regions drafted by the JRC and CoR:
Driving policy choices within the priority areas set out by Regional Law 22/2014 through a constant dialogue and cooperation with the scientific community;
Recognising the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles and prevention;
Recognising the importance of technology facilitating solutions and opportunities for active ageing and greater social inclusion, including through public demand for innovation;
Making the elderly population participate in the definition of functional requirements for the development of new technologies and social innovation in order to improve the quality of life and social inclusion;
Facilitating intergenerational integration connecting young, adult and senior citizens;
Envisioning a cross-sectional development of services for citizens in perspective of active ageing.

7. New activities
In 2017 the FVG Region joined the Active and Assisted Living Association (AAL) and is will now eligible to participate as a full member to the AAL Programme (i.e call on “Smart solutions for ageing well”).
FVG Region is also partner in the ITHACA Project under Interreg Europe Programme. The goal of the project is to accelerate the scaling up of smart health and care innovation. It aims at improving structural funds policies and enhancing regional and interregional ecosystems.

8. Science meets Regions - Follow-up
The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region is organising in collaboration with the JRC a follow-up event, which will take place in Trieste, at the Regional Council, next 22 January 2018.
The event will include two sessions:
Science meets Regions – Healthy Active Ageing – edition 2017
Science meets Regions – a methodology for the Regional Parliaments
This second session aims at disseminating the methodology "Science meets Regions" developed by the JRC and the Committee of the Regions and is:
organised in cooperation with the Conference of the Italian Regional Legislative Assemblies
addressed to all the Italian Regional Parliaments (including the two Autonomous Provinces).