The European Innovation Dialogue

Innovation is a strategic priority

Innovation has become a strategic priority for regional policy. Strategies formulated in Brussels are as good as they are implemented by the member states, regions and cities. Local and regional authorities and innovation stakeholders dispose of a set of resources and tools which are crucial to successful innovation. Considerable efforts should therefore be made to creating an environment that encourages innovation on the ground.

How to encourage innovation on the ground?

- How should we meet to innovate?

- What kind of platforms should we use?

- How should we build the communities and networks?

Structural funds 2007 - 2013

The next generation of structural funds during the period 2007 to 2013 is designed to allocate an important budget that allows enhancing the innovation strategies at the regional level considerably. Also there is a greater flexibility to combine the various innovation-related funding budgets. In order to make the best out of the funds available, the innovation stakeholders from the public and private sector have an inherent interest in collaborating towards achieving the best possible results.

- Collaboration

- Achieving the best results

The design of the agenda

The design of the event agenda is based on an a priori analysis of the situation regarding the innovation ecosystem in the region in question, innovation actors, their problems and the potential of the system. A close partnership with the major local actors is another crucial element that guarantees not only to set the agenda right but also to have the right people on board.

- The innovation ecosystem

- Innovation actors

- A close partnership with local actors

The added value

The added value of the event however depends on its outcome and the concrete results and recommendations that are elaborated. In order to have the broadest possible participation, the conference is followed-up by a consultation procedure involving the wider innovation community.

The final results serve as input for future innovation strategies, measures and projects which can be used to address national, regional and European policy makers but also the innovation system and its actors themselves.