Experts discuss in Sweden new possible actions to enhance European innovation policy and interregional cooperation

News article |

The conference “Partnerships for Regional Innovation: From Pilot to Practice” held on 30-31 May brought together participants in the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) Pilot and beyond to discuss further joint work, exchange good practices, co-shape the revised PRI Playbook and engage with interested stakeholders on the green and digital transitions.

In 2022, the European Commission announced that 74 territories including regions, cities and Member States were selected for the PRI Pilot to jointly develop, explore, co-create and test tools while linking local strategies with initiatives at EU level to foster the green and digital transitions.

Swedish and other European politicians, national authorities, regional development directors, officials and an array of stakeholders working on sustainable regional development and exploring with transformative innovation policies now gather to share lessons learnt from the Pilot Action and discuss the continuity of further strengthening collaboration on the basis of the results achieved. At the conference, the European Commission presents new tools and actions that will open up new cooperation, alliances and talks on the new European Innovation Agenda for more multi-level governance for innovation driven territorial transformation and interregional cooperation to strengthen European value chains through regional innovation valleys and, as referred by Teresa Riesgo, General Secretary for Innovation representing the next Spanish Presidency of the European Council, “Twin Transition cannot forget Social Innovation. We are Europe, we don’t leave any region behind”  

To achieve the green transition, we need to be helped at the regional, national and EU level.” Birgitta Sacrédeus (KD), Regional Council and Chair of the Regional Development Board, said: “By meeting in Tällberg, we connect to more partners, strengthen our innovation capacity while also shaping the innovation policy of the future.”  

The conference is organised in the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions and the Dalarna Region together with the regions of Northern and Eastern Central Sweden, Vinnova Sweden's innovation agency, and Tillväxtverket, the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth and MidSweden.