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CoR calls for coordinated action to boost research and innovation
09.05.2008, 09:14
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlined the need for further action to improve research and innovation in Europe's regions and cities at a seminar organised by its Commission for Culture, Education and Research (EDUC) in Sardinia, Italy on Wednesday 30 April. Participants at the seminar "Promoting research and innovation for regional development" agreed that efforts to create substantial research and innovation capacities must be increased if the ambitions of the renewed Lisbon agenda are to be achieved.
The seminar, opened by Renato SORU, President of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Luca SPISSU, President of the Regional Council of the Region , and Gerd HARMS, Chair of the EDUC Commission, focused on promoting the regional dimension of the European Research Area and promoting innovation as a key driver for regional development.
In his opening address, Harms, State Secretary of the Land of Brandenburg, stressed the importance of close cooperation amongst all relevant stakeholders towards achieving common goals in order for research and innovation to bring lasting benefits to regional development.
The first session, chaired by Michael SCHROEREN, rapporteur for the CoR opinion on "European Research Area - New perspectives" looked at the ways in which regions and cities could improve coordination in the use of EU funding for research and innovation.
The speakers, including MEP Lambert VAN NISTELROOIJ, President of the Association of European Border Regions, and Leonidas KARAPIPERIS, European Research Area expert for DG Research in the European Commission, discussed initiatives such as the setting up of integrated research and innovation strategies and governance, supporting and creating research and innovation resources and skills, the development of regional and inter-regional clusters and the setting up research institutions within innovative and attractive surroundings. Emphasis was placed on the need for increased mobility of researchers.
The second session, chaired by Jyrki MYLLYVIRTA, rapporteur for the CoR opinion on "More efficient support for research and innovation in the EU regions", considered the necessity for substantial and more coordinated support for research and innovation at local and regional level from the EU, Member States and the private sector. Myllyvirta called for a more sophisticated EU and national policy mix and better balance between fostering existing "poles of excellence" in research and innovation and enabling new ones to emerge.
Guest Speakers, including Georg WINCKLER, President of the European Universities Association, and Luciano CRISCUOLI, Director General for research, Italian Ministry for Universities and Research, urged the EU and Member State governments to provide regular and better coordinated dissemination of results and good practices. EU and national leaders were asked to support greater interaction between the regional development, innovation and research policy "communities", as well as to further promote examples of best practice across the EU and within Member States on how regions and cities are increasing and better coordinating their investments in research and innovation.
The seminar followed a meeting of the EDUC Commission in which opinions by Marc SCHAEFER on the Telecoms Reform Package and Roberto PELLA on Multilingualism were approved for adoption at the CoR's forthcoming Plenary Session on 8-9 June. An opinion overseen by Gerd HARMS on the Proposal for a European Year of Creativity and Innovation will also be put forward for adoption.
Source: www.cor.eu