European Innovation Ecosystems:

good governance and effective support for Smart Specialisation

26 January 2016, 9.30-16.15h
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels

Context
The European Structural Investment Funds contribute EUR 118 billion to the smart growth objectives
improving the EU's performance in research/innovation and Digital Single Market. These investments in the
real economy will upgrade research capabilities of firms and universities, create incubators and technological
centers, enable access to risk capital and loans, build cluster partnerships, activate innovation ecosystems,
provide advanced services, stimulate collaboration in European value chains in order to deepen internal
market and strengthen industrial base. The cornerstone of investments in R&D&I are the regional innovation
strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3). These strategies have triggered a paradigm shift in innovation
policy design and implementation in many European regions to have robust programmes based on evidence
and stakeholder involvement. They also aim at increasing synergies with Horizon 2020, and contribute
significantly to improve regional governance and build a resilient economic structure with an active role of
public administration and regional innovation actors.

Purpose
The purpose of the joint CoR-EC conference is to update and exchange knowledge and experience
concerning the effectiveness and efficiency of supporting innovative entrepreneurship at territorial levels in
the context of implementation of smart specialisation strategies. This would include exploring and discussing
intra-regional governance issues of successful European Innovation Ecosystem as well as the quality and
effectiveness of business support service providers.

Participants
Representatives from national/regional authorities and practitioners from business and innovation support
institutions organized in non-governmental networks such as EBN (gathering Incubators & Business &
Innovation Centres, EU-BICs), IASP (gathering Science and Technology Parks, and Areas of Innovation),
the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (gathering clusters), ERRIN & EURADA (gathering
development agencies and Innovative regions), EARTO (gathering research & technology organizations,
RTOS) and other innovation actors.

Programme
 Registration and welcome coffee (COR, JDE building 5th floor)
Time: 09:00-09:30

Opening session
Time: 9.30 – 10:30, room: JDE 52
 Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation
 Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions – video message
 Yoomi Renström, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions SEDEC Commission and Member of
Ovanåker Municipal Council
 Ramón Luis VALCÁRCEL SISO, Vice-President of the European Parliament (tbc)
 Nicola De Michelis, Head of the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Regional and Urban Development
(tbc)

Keynote presentation
Time: 10:30-11:15, room: JDE 52
Title: "The Role of intra-regional good governance and effective business support service providers for
successful European Innovation Ecosystem"
Speaker: Prof. Kevin Morgan, School of Planning and Geography-Cardiff University, Special Advisor to the
EU Commissioner for Regional and Urban Policy, Member of the European Commission’s Advisory Group
on Smart Specialisation

Panel Discussion
Time: 11:15 – 12:30, room: JDE 52
Title: "Debating regional governance model in dynamically changing economic conditions"
Moderator: Christian Saublens, CEO-European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA)
Panelists:
 Yoomi Renström, Chair of the European Committee of the Regions SEDEC Commission and
Member of Ovanåker Municipal Council
 Iñaki San Sebastián, Deputy Managing Director of TECNALIA
 Álvaro Simón de Blas, EBN President and representative of Spanish BICs - BIC Euronova Malaga
 Jean-François Balducchi, IASP President and CEO of Atlanpole Nantes (France)
 Jerzy Langer, CEO, Wroclaw EIT+ (Poland)

Lunch ('buffet' same floor as the event-JDE)

Time: 12:30 – 13:30

Three parallel sessions on professionalization of services (please choose one when registering)
Time: 13:30 – 15:00
1. Business creation and growth
2. Interconnecting domains and innovation actors
3. Co-creation of knowledge
 Session 1: Business creation and growth
Time: 13:30 – 15:00, room: 53
Method: Presentations of good practices
Moderator: Philippe Vanrie, EBN CEO
Panelists:
 Valeria Fascione, Campania, Italy, in charge of start-ups and innovation
 Joe Greaney, Director of WESTBIC, President of EBN and Chair of the Association of EU BICs in
Ireland
 David Uhlir, Deputy Director of the South Moravian Innovation Centre
 Jarmo Eskelinen, President of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), CEO of Forum Virium,
Helsinki, Finland
 Eva Pando, General director at IDEPA (Economic Development Institute in the Principality of
Asturias)

Rapporteur from Session 1: Marek Przeor, Head of Sector in the Competence Centre Smart and
Sustainable Growth, DG for Regional and Urban Policy

Session 2: Interconnecting domains and innovation actors (Participatory Session)

Time: 13:30 – 15:00, JDE 5th floor, open space "Ledra Street"
Method: Matchmaking event with participatory session
Moderator: Olivier Brunet, DG R&I, European Commission

Part one (40 minutes)

 Scene setting
 Luis Sanz, Director General IASP
 Marc Pattinson, Inno Group - representing the European Cluster Collaboration
Platform/Observatory
 Good practices:
 Katia Mirochnitchenko, General Manager Optitec Pole de Compétivité, Chateau
Gombert Science Park, Marseille
 Fabrizio Conicella, Science Park and cluster Director Bio Industry Park, Turin
 Catherine Johns, Netpark, UK
 Steen Donner, ScionDTU, Denmark
 Josep Piqué, 22@Barcelona, Spain
 Jari Lauronen, CEO Joensuu Science Park, Finland; IASP European Division President

Part two: world café (participatory session, 50 minutes)

Rapporteur from Session 2: Carsten Schierenbeck, Team Leader – Emerging Industries, ‘Clusters, Social
Economy & Entrepreneurship’ Unit in DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European
Commission
 Session 3: Co-creation of knowledge
Time: 13:30 – 15:00, room: JDE 51
Method: Presentations of good practices (by panelists) + Q&A
Moderator: Ulla Engelmann, Head of International, Interinstitutional and Stakeholder Relations Unit, Joint
Research Centre, European Commission
Panelists:
 Peter Oakley, Associate Director, TWI
 Ton Van Lier, Coordinator Subsidies City of Helmond, Manager Innovation Brainport
International Programme
 Jean-Louis Szabo, Deputy Director Europe, CEA
 Wolfram Sparber, Head of the Institute for Renewable Energy, EURAC

Rapporteur from Session 3: Andrea Conte, Project Leader, Knowledge for Growth Unit, Institute for
Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Coffee Break (JDE 5th floor)

Time: 15:00-15:15

Report from three parallel sessions

Time: 15:15 – 15:45, room: JDE 52
Rapporteur: Christian Saublens
- Rapporteurs from three sessions briefly present their findings
- The main rapporteur draws conclusions

Closing Session
Time: 15:45 – 16:15, room: JDE 52
- Raffaele Cattaneo, Chair of the CoR COTER Commission (tbc)
- Vladimír Šucha, Director General, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Additional information:
- Working language: English (+ passive translation SE for 11.15 panel discussion; ES in the closing session)
- Number of participants: max 165
- Venue: Committee of Regions, JDE Building, Rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, 5th floor

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