Prof. Maurizio Mensi Consigliere al CESE per CIU Unionquadri.
Implementation of the New European Innovation Agenda –
What is in it for regions and cities?
Thematic seminar of the Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP 2.0)
Thursday, 28 September 2023, 14:30 – 17:30
European Committee of the Regions
(rue Belliard 99-101, 1040 Brussels, JDE52)
On 5 July last year, the European Commission adopted a long-awaited Communication laying out the New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA), articulating a comprehensive European strategy for innovation for the first time since the Innovation Union in 2010.
This policy initiative aims at reinforcing European leadership in deep-tech innovations that accelerate the green and digital transitions, by bringing together policies, investments, and instruments in a coherent joined-up approach to drive systemic change and impact.
Its dedicated flagship on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems focuses on creating the connected Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs) across the EU, by building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation, in support of key EU priorities.
This thematic seminar, jointly organised between the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions, will focus on the regional and local dimension of the New European Innovation Agenda, including the opportunities for Regional Innovation Valleys.
Draft agenda
Moderator: Pirita Lindholm, director, ERRIN
Introduction: Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP), Chair of the CoR’s SEDEC Commission, Mayor of Gabrovo Municipality
Implementation of the NEIA – A local & regional experience
Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General, DG R&I
State of play of the NEIA implementation
Keynote: Anna Panagopoulou, Director, DG R&I (tbc)
Fostering connected regional deep-tech innovation valleys across the EU
PART 1: Setting the policy frame
Speaker 1: Alexandr Hobza, Head of Unit, DG R&I State of play of innovation in the regions of the EU – Regional Innovation Scoreboard
Speaker 2: András Inotai, Head of Unit, DG R&I Regional Innovation Valleys – State of play
Speaker 3: Hélène Chraye, Head of Unit, DG R&I Regional Innovation Valleys e.g., Hydrogen Valleys
Speaker 4: Regional representative’s (DK) experience with the RIVs call (tbc)
Part 2: Practical examples from regions
Speaker 4: Maurizio Mensi (IT/Group III), Member of the Italian Confederation of Academic Professionals – CIU Unionquadri, Rapporteur of the EESC opinion on the NEIA
Speaker 5: Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), Vice-President of the CoR, President of the Helsinki Region, Rapporteur of the CoR opinion on the NEIA (tbc) Implementation of the NEIA/Call for RIVs – Best practice from the Helsinki region
Speaker 6: Anne Besnier (FR/PES), Vice-president of the Centre-Val de Loire region, Rapporteur of the CoR opinion on FP10 (tbc)
Implementation of the NEIA/Call for RIVs – Best practice from the Centre-Val de Loire region
Speaker 7: Pirita Lindholm, director, ERRIN
Case studies from regions participating in the Call for Regional Innovation Valleys