S3 Peer-Review Workshop: 'Stakeholder Engagement and the RIS3 Governance' in Vaasa (FI)

  • 14 May 2013 to 15 May 2013
  • University of Vaasa (FI)

The regions Ostrobothnia (FI), Languedoc-Roussillon (FR), Lubelskie (PL) and Piedmont (IT) presented their work on RIS3 while the rest of the workshop participants acted as 'critical friends' and discussed the strategies of the four regions under review.

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Agenda and Presentations

Event agenda

Background
Ostrobothnia (FI): Presentation of RIS3 and background document
Languedoc-Roussillon (FR): Presentation of RIS3 and background document
Lubelskie (PL): Presentation of RIS3 and background document
Piedmont (IT): Presentation of RIS3 and background document

Practical Information

When
14 May 2013 to 15 May 2013
Where
University of Vaasa (FI)
Registration Information
Registration is closed.

Description

The rector of the University of Vaasa, Matti Jakobsson, and the director of regional development from the regional council, Varpu Rajaniemi, welcomed the 60 participants from 25 regions in 17 different countries to Vaasa.

From the European Commission, Alessandro Rainoldi from the S3 Platform and Wolfgang Streitenberger from DG REGIO presented the activities and tools of the platform and gave latest news from DG Regio and frequently asked questions related to the ex-ante conditionalities and expectations for RIS3.

On day 2, CEO Sture Udd from UPCode, a local company with customers in more than 30 countries, gave a fresh reminder of the view of different stakeholders engaged in the process of RIS3.

This workshop's plenary session explored the possibilities and challenges associated with different approaches to governance of a RIS3 process with an additional focus on the tools to enhance stakeholder engagement in a Quadruple Helix partnership. Expert presentations were given by Elias Carayannis, Håkon Finne and Suntje Schmidt.

Transnational learning is at the heart of workshops where regions, experts, commission and other stakeholders meet. Åge Mariussen gave an introduction to mutual transnational learning. The peer review sessions build on lessons learnt from previous peer review workshops, but also on research done by the S3 Platform on the motives for and outcomes of these workshops. Preliminary results from the analysis were given by Ruslan Rakhmatullin while Inger Midtkandal gave an introduction to the methodology used in the sessions. Building on experience from previous peer-review workshops organised by the S3 Platform, a S3 peer review methodology was used as an instrument to support regions in the development of their RIS3.

Four regions presented their work on RIS3 while the rest of the workshop participants acted as 'critical friends' and discussed the strategies of the four regions under review.

SEMINARS ON QUADRUPEL HELIX AND THE NORDIC MODEL
In the days before and after the workshop, the University of Vaasa and Botnia-Atlantica institute hosted the following related seminars open to all members of the S3 Platform .

The Day Before, 13 MAY: Botnia-Atlantica Institute Seminar on Smart Regional Governance, Indicators and Connectedness
Given the emerging Quadruple Helix approach to Smart Specialisation Strategies, the objective of this workshop was to present, discuss and take steps towards a framework for quadruple helix analysis and indicators enabling better guidance, governance and transnational learning between Smart regions. - Event agenda

The Day After, 16 MAY: Botnia-Atlantica Institute Seminar on the Nordic Model – Relevant for Europe?
The Nordic model can best be understood as a civil society where values such as knowledge, transparency, democracy and participative decision making are crucial in solving a core question: how can we provide a good life for all citizens, and knowledge based economic development – also in tough economic times? The model builds on the understanding that welfare and knowledge policies and institutions are crucial to economic competitiveness, productivity and innovation. - Event agenda

The Nordic model is a combination of collective risk sharing through social policy (welfare state) institutions, and openness to competition and globalization. The welfare state makes globalization and deregulation acceptable to citizens, by facilitating adjustments that allow the economy to benefit from changing markets and to raise productivity and incomes. In order to be able to maintain the welfare state under the pressure of the global market, productivity in the public sector has been a core priority for several decades.  At the same time, the Nordic countries have developed well-functioning regional relations between Universities, other institutions of education, and the need for innovation in private industries. These connections, which will be illustrated by examples, are often made regionally.  In the seminar we will present examples, and open for discussions of whether this is relevant in the context of regional development needs in other parts of Europe.