1. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 1 EU regional innovation policies: the experience of the IRE Network Valencia, 12 th December 2002 Jaime Moll de Alba, IRC-IRE Central Unit Innovating Regions in Europe network

2. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 2 Innovating Regions in Europe: contents Contents Rationale and objectives Policy context Members Projects Achievements New Projects Future Central Unit services

3. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 3 Innovating Regions in Europe: objectives Rationale & objectives of the IRE Network Key role of local and regional governments widely acknowledged Set up in 1994 by the European Commission Exchange of experience Trans-regional projects Show-case of good practices Fostering of innovation

4. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 4 Innovating Regions in Europe: context Policy context Lisbon European Council Communication on Innovation Communication ’The Regions in the New Economy’ Communication ’The Regional Dimension of ERA’ Communication ’Towards 3% of GDP’

5. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 5 Innovating Regions in Europe: members ~ 200 regions EEA + NAC

6. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 6 Innovating Regions in Europe: projects Projects

7. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 7 Innovating Regions in Europe: projects Development and implementation of regional innovation strategies RITTS (70) RIS/RTP (33) RIS+ (25) Trans-Regional Innovation Projects (11)

8. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 8 Innovating Regions in Europe: projects Key characteristics of regional innovation strategies Demand-led initiative Consensus-building project Optimisation of the RTDI infrastructure Action-oriented exercise Monitoring process European dimension

9. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 9 Innovating Regions in Europe: achievements Achievements of regional innovation strategies Move towards strategic thinking Creation of a regional dialogue Introduction of a broader concept of innovation Rationalisation of the innovation support infrastructure Mainstream into the Structural Funds

10. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 10 Innovating Regions in Europe: projects Reasons behind diverse achievements Regional capacity Economic conditions RTDI conditions Institutional capacity Driving force Previous experience of strategy Legitimacy and political backing of project driver Openness and inclusiveness

11. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 11 Innovating Regions in Europe: open projects On-going projects RIS-NACs IRE Thematic Networks ERDF Innovative Actions

12. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 12 Innovating Regions in Europe: RIS NACs RIS NACs: objectives 16 projects covering 10 NACs Development of innovation systems in Accession Countries using a mentoring approach Strengthen co-operation across Europe Foster regional and economic cohesion

13. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 13 Innovating Regions in Europe: TNs IRE Thematic Networks: objectives Facilitation of exchange of experiences and ideas Fostering inter-regional collaboration Development of innovation support measures

14. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 14 Innovating Regions in Europe: TNs IRE Thematic Networks Development of clusters Exploitation of research Entrepreneurship Creation of new ventures IMTs Innovation in Large Metropolitan Areas Innovation in the agri-food sector Support to RIS NACs Cross-border co-operation

15. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 15 Innovating Regions in Europe: PRAI ERDF Innovative Actions 2000 - 06 EU support for regional programmes to experiment innovative methods and practices Three strands: Technological innovation Information society Sustainable development

16. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 16 Innovating Regions in Europe: Network IRE Network Inter-regional learning Promotion of good practice Trans-regional co-operation Exchange of tools Foster innovation

17. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 17 Innovating Regions in Europe: FP6 Regional innovation under FP6 Specific Programme ”Structuring the European Research Area”, heading ”Research and Innovation”, six actions Co-operation among regions Networking New tools and approaches Information and assistance Economic and technogical intelligence Analyses and evaluation

18. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 18 Innovating Regions in Europe: CU services IRC-IRE Central Unit activities Advice and technical support Transnationality Training and guidelines Promotion Follow-up of regional innovation strategies

19. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 19 Innovating Regions in Europe: innovation portal

20. ©Innovation Relay Centres and Innovating Regions in Europe Central Unit (IRC-IRE CU) 20 Innovating Regions in Europe IRC-IRE Central Unit Tel: +352 441012 2256 Fax: +352 441012 2055 e-mail: j.moll@irc-ire.lu http//www.innovating-regions.org