Launch of the CoR-JRC Pilot Action on Partnerships for Regional Innovation

17 May 2022
Live streaming available

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions launch on the 17th of May the Pilot action on Partnerships for Regional Innovation. This initiative responds to the urgent call of the European Green Deal to address the unprecedented challenge posed by climate change and other societal challenges related to sustainability in ways that strengthen social and territorial cohesion.

10:30-11:00

Registration and Coffee
11:00 – 11:30

Opening Session
Moderator: Markku Markkula, Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR)
- Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
- Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
- Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the CoR
11:30 – 11:35

Break
11:35 – 12:30

Session two: Commitment and Expectations of Regions and Cities
Moderator: Anne Karjalainen, Chair of the SEDEC Commission, CoR
- Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca (RO)
- Birgitta Sacrédeus, Chairperson of the Regional Development Committee, Region Dalarna Mid Sweden (SE)
- Pedro Faria e Castro, Regional Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Azores Government (PT)
- Leonidas Athinadis, Deputy Governor North Aegean region (EL)
- María de Valle Miguélez, Regional Minister for Enterprise, Employment, Universities and Spokesperson of the Region of Murcia (ES)
- Tanja Hristova, Mayor of Grabovo Municipality (BG)
12:30 – 12:35

Break
12:35-13:30

Session three: Implementation Priorities and Challenges
Moderator: Markku Markkula, Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR)
- Mikel Landabaso, Director of Innovation and Growth, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
- Daniela Ferrara, Responsible for Regional, National and Structural Funds at the Directorate General for Knowledge, Research, Labour, Enterprises. Emilia Romagna (IT)
- Ewa Draus, Deputy Marshal of the Podkarpackie region (PL)
- François Decoster, Vice-President of Hauts de France Regional Council (FR)
- Istvan Szabo, Vice-President of the National Research Development and Innovation Office (HU)
- Pablo Cortes Achedad, General Secretary of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Junta de Andalucía (ES)
- Kevin Morgan, Scientific Committee Member

Practical Information

When: 17 May 2022
Registration Information: For the online event, registration is not required. The event is fully public via live stream with English-French-English interpretation. Due to availability constraints, only a limited representation of the participating parties will be invited to attend the in-person event in Brussels.
Live streaming: https://webcast.ec.europa.eu/launch-of-the-cor-jrc-pilot-action-on-partnership-for-regional-innovation-pri

Description

It supports the establishment of strategic frameworks linking EU sustainability objectives with place-based opportunities and challenges, to ensure that Europe thrives in the green and digital economy of the future

Main objectives

This hybrid event on Partnerships for Regional Innovation co-organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), takes place on the May 17th 2022. The main objective of the event is twofold: first, to announce the European territories that will participate in the Pilot Action over the next year to co-develop and test the approach and second, to present the Partnerships for Regional Innovation Playbook, the initial guidance document underpinning the Pilot.

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation Playbook: promoting knowledge of good practices

The main reference document underpinning the Partnerships for Regional Innovation - PRI Pilot Action is the "Partnerships for Regional Innovation Playbook", developed by the JRC-European Commission with the support of a Scientific Committee of recognised experts and centred on a selection of practical policy tools. This initial edition showcases proven tools, inspired by leading innovation policy practice across Europe and the world. The term ‘play’ in the title emphasises the need for exploring, experimenting and learning and also for tailored approaches to the unique opportunities and challenges of each territory.

Over the course of the pilot, the tools will be further improved, adapted and tested against the realities of European regions and Member States. The Partnerships for Regional Innovation Playbook is aimed at inspiring all levels of government to better leverage policies for innovation, including in domains outside the traditional remit of research and innovation policy.

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation approach

The Partnerships for Regional Innovation are a complementary approach, which builds on positive experiences with smart specialisation strategies. The initiative aims to enhance the coordination and directionality of regional, national and EU R&I policies to implement Europe’s green and digital transitions and to tackle the innovation divide in the EU.

The Partnerships will be firmly anchored in the EU policy framework, supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal, Horizon Europe, Cohesion policy and NextGenerationEU. Particular attention will be placed on tools and governance mechanisms that mobilise multiple sources of funding and policies to amplify impact and that can help connect regional and national initiatives to EU initiatives for the twin transition.