Workshop on Research and Innovation in the EUSAIR

24 May 2018 to 24 May 2018
Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante Alighieri 32, Catania (IT)

The purpose of the Workshop held as a side event to the 3rd Annual Forum of the EUSAIR was to stimulate the debate on how to promote Research and Innovation cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-Region (EUSAIR). Starting from an introduction on the European strategic framework, the event looked into some existing initiatives and tools to support R&I investments at macro-regional level, focusing on the indicative actions defined in the EUSAIR Action Plan and on possible synergies between ESIF and direct thematic funds (e.g. H2020, COSME, etc.).

Agenda and Presentations

9.30 WELCOME & INTRODUCTION - Moderation Aleš GNAMUŠ, Joint Research Centre, European Commission;

9.35 - 9.50 Focusing the Event - The role of Innovation Ecosystems and Smart Specialisation - Aleš GNAMUŠ, Joint Research Centre, European Commission;

9.50 - 10.30 SESSION 1: SMART SPECIALISATION, INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS, REINFORCING INNOVATION CAPACITIES, FUNDING SYNERGIES:

Italy’s contribution to EUSAIR Macroregional policies: The case of Trieste System - Enrico PADULA, DG for Country Promotion, Multilateral Policies and Activities for Research, Science and Space, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy;
Strenghening Research and Innovation Capacities and Connecting Ecosystems in the Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion - Annamaria ZONNO, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission;
The Role of Networks as Innovation Systems Integrators - Lessons Learnt from the Vanguard Initiative - Valentina PINNA, Head of sector Research and Innovation, Chair of the Vanguard Initiative;

10.30 - 11.15 SESSION 2: KEY ACTORS - EXAMPLES OF THE EXISTING INITIATIVES FROM CLUSTERS AND UNIVERSITIES:

Open Innovation at Transregional Level: The OIS-AIR Interreg-Adrion Project - Elena BANCI, AREA Science Park, Trieste, Italy;
Clusters as Key Actors of the EUSAIR Macroregion - Lucio SABBADINI, CEO of the Maritime Technology Cluster Friuli-Venecia Giulia, President of the Blue Italian Growth Cluster (BIG), Italy;
Facing the challanges of EUSAIR Macroregion - the Role of Universities and Higher Education Institutions - Mario GIORDANO, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Secretary-General of the Association of Univerisities and Research Centres of the Adriatic-Ionian Region (UNIADRION), Marche, Italy;

11.15 - 11.45 Coffee Break & Networking

11.45 - 12.45 SESSION 3: BOOSTING PUBLIC-PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN THE MACROREGION - HOW TO BETTER USE THE EXISTING EUROPEAN OPPORTUNITIES:

Challenges and Opportunities for Slovenia in Research and Innovation Cooperation in the EUSAIR - Draško VESELINOVIČ, CEO Slovenian Business & Research Association (SBRA), Brussels;
Supporting Start-ups in the EUSAIR Macroregion - The Role of Business Angels and Clusters in the EUSAIR Macroregion - Angelos MANGLIS, Atlantis S.A., Hellenic Mobile Cluster Facilitator, Adrion Business Angels Manager, Greece;
Financial Instruments in the Adriatic Area - Andrea BUA, HoU, European Investment Bank;

12.45 - 13.45 SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS, Aleš GNAMUŠ, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Workshop Summary

Research and Innovation in the EUSAIR - The Role of Innovation Ecosystems and Smart Specialisation

Practical Information

When: 24 May 2018 to 24 May 2018
Where: Benedictine Monastery of San Nicolò l'Arena, Piazza Dante Alighieri 32, Catania (IT)

Description

The purpose of the Workshop, held as a side event to the 3rd Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR), was to stimulate the debate on how to promote Research and Innovation cooperation in the macro-region. Starting from an introduction on the European strategic framework, the event looked into some existing initiatives and tools to support R&I investments at macro-regional level, focusing on the indicative actions defined in the EUSAIR Action Plan and on possible synergies between ESIF and direct thematic funds (e.g. H2020, COSME, etc.).

Special attention was devoted to the Smart Specialisation (S3) approach that proved to be key for the forward looking evidence based economic development and implementation of the innovation strategies in Europe and beyond. Based on collaborative and participatory processes, S3 facilitate demand driven innovation and collective solutions involving quadruple helix innovation ecosystems. Connecting different key actors and creating enabling environments for the development, commercialisation and exploitation of innovation, strong territorial innovation ecosystems are essential also for the valorisation of the Macro-regional innovation potential.

Interregional cooperation based on Smart Specialisation has the potential to connect innovation ecosystems, complementary skills, infrastructure and markets. Nevertheless, the challenge is to promote investment synergies between the private and public sectors and to build competitive interregional value chains.

In a phase of transition between the two EU programming periods, this workshop has further developed the following topics:

1. Key role of Smart Specialisation in the future EU programming period;

2. The importance of innovation ecosystems for socio-economic development;

3. How to reinforce innovation capacities and innovation ecosystems in the “widening areas”;

4. The role of the networks as system integrators;

5. Funding synergies and governance of the EUSAIR Macro-region;

6. Concrete interregional cooperation initiatives and pilot projects;

7. Possible strategic priorities to focus macro-regional R&I investments;

8. How to involve the industry and SMEs in the implementation of Macro-regional Strategies;

9. How to stimulate interregional innovation investments; and

10. The role of the EU financial instruments to enhance R&I in the EUSAIR Macro-region.

The event was attended by around 60 participants. The agenda of the event, presentations and conclusions are accessible below. Further information on the 3rd Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for Adriatic-Ionian Region may be found on the EUSAIR website.

Venue