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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WIRE2015 (Week of Innovative Regions in Europe 2015 (WIRE VI))

Teaser

Summary

A three day conference, Week of Innovative Regions Europe VI (WIRE VI), was proposed to be held in Riga during the Latviaâ€™s Presidency of the European Union 2015. The WIRE VI focused on enhancing research and innovation investment in regions and Member States, discussed the new policy instruments for the programming period 2014-2020 and highlighted the potential of innovation and knowledge, discussed the measures of how to narrow the innovation split among European regions and to optimize Smart Specialisation Strategies. The WIRE VI concentrated on the new specific objective of Horizon 2020 on Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation and paid attention to the newly proposed measures to help address the innovation divide through actions on Teaming, Twinning and ERA Chairs, bringing excellence and innovation to research institutions. The links and synergies of research and innovation policy with Cohesion Policy and the specific tool of clusters were examined, especially regarding the modalities stemming from the new legislation of the European Structural and Investment Funds. The conference contributed to research, innovation and regional policy development following the traditions of previous conferences of WIRE series. This year WIRE focused on the issues like: from programme to implementation: the key challenges for regions; how to close the innovation divide: the role of regions; overcoming the barriers to innovation and encouraging regional strategies. The main topics of the Conference were: towards jobs and growth: boosting research and innovation investment on the regional level; meeting the implementation challenge: rolling-out and scaling-up implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies; the challenge of Open Data; maximising the impact of available funding instruments: the Synergies Challenge to reduce the innovation divide. The objectives of the Conference were as follows: taking stock of the key issues for regions regarding research and innovation; providing information about mutual learning on innovative practices and approaches, getting inspired; overcoming barriers to innovation and encouraging regional strategies.

Work performed

Upon the end of reporting period on-line kick-off meeting (teleconference) was held in Riga and Brussels on 15.01.2015., where logistics of the conference, financials issues, division of technical and content-wise tasks of project implementation and work plan were discussed, as well as Steering Committee (SC) and Advisory Committee (AC) members appointed. 5 SC and AC meetings were held (05.02.2015. in Riga, 03.03.2015. in Brussels, 18.03.2015. in Riga, 23.03.2015. in Brussels, 30.04.2015. in Brussels). Subcontracting with the conference organizer and catering service has been done.
Within the WP1 â€œProject managementâ€ financial, administrative, technical and contractual management of the project has been provided, including preparation of financial report. Coordination of project activities and collaboration with the regional and European stakeholders, who were involved in the organization of the conference has been ensured. Tender (price survey) has been launched for the conference organizer. Contract with the conference organizer has been prepared, signed and implemented. Quality assurance plan has been elaborated with an aim to ensure that the coordinator effectively organizes, implements and follows up- the WIRE VI conference, as well as monitors the subcontractorsâ€™ procedures and final results. Several local work meetings and three SC meetings have been held to discuss overall organization of the conference.
In the framework of WP2 â€œContent developmentâ€ the set-up of the conference agenda attracting high quality speakers (in total 54), rapporteurs and moderators has been developed. The conference participants were invited from different geographical and regional representations in total from 32 countries. Two AC meetings have been held and final report with recommendations for regional science and innovation policies has been prepared.
Within the WP3 â€œConference logistics, technical support, managementâ€ the management of organizational tasks of the conference has been provided and they related to arrangement of pre-conference logistics (renting the venue premises, procuring catering services, arranging technical facilities, arranging site visits and side events in total 5, etc.) as well as to smooth conference implementation. Around 350-400 participants and speakers have been invited to participate at the conference, exhibition/poster session(s), etc. Procurement plan for the conference organizer has been developed with an aim to describe procurement object and to provide transparency of the spent budget.
Within the WP4 â€œCommunication and disseminationâ€ organization and promotion of the WIRE VI conference to stakeholders has been ensured as well as visibility to the wide public has been guaranteed according to the description of the promotional materials. During the conference live web streaming was ensured to allow wider part of public to follow the conference and information delivered through social networks, including twitter. Public debate on the conference themes was encouraged and broad dissemination of project outcomes and recommendations of the conference was provided e.g. in the form of 5 press releases, promotional materials, press conference, conference proceedings. Communication plan (and other PR activities) was drafted, implemented and also discussed during SC meetings. Communication plan was developed with an aim to attract the audience and to achieve the planned number of participants. Also actualize the topics of WIRE 2015 conference and side events, as well as increase understanding of media representatives about innovation and smart specialization strategy. Project activities were communicated through 15 media. The project website has been designed and developed for the conference.

Final results

By implementing The WIRE VI Conference in Riga during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (International Conference):
- Active involvement of regional stakeholders: policy-makers and implementers, academic and scientific personnel, entrepreneurs has been assured thereby political recognition has been increased as well. 32 countries were involved thus covering broad geographical and regional representation;
- Knowledge and experience of stakeholders has been enhanced about EU 2020 results and RIS3 through presentations, examples of good practices. 54 speakers, 361 participant, 15 media were present and 5 side events have been organized;
- Synergy between regional, national and EU level research and innovation politics has been enhanced;
- Closer cooperation between regions in implementation of RIS3 has been established. Conclusions about the regional aspects of EU 2020 Strategy implementation and achievement of national goals, identification of obstacles for further development of research and innovation policies have been summarized and reflected in conference proceedings and described in final report;
- Better planning of the research and innovation policy priorities till 2020 and optimal planning and use of financial instruments has been discussed. Proposals for development and elaboration of the research and innovation policy priorities till 2020 have been included in conference proceedings and described in final report.
The WIRE VI Conference in Riga provided an opportunity for policy dialogue on Regional Strategies, Innovation & Growth. Since 2010 the WIRE Conferences has been established as the most significant European forum dedicated to regional strategies, innovation and development. WIRE Conferences are the ones of the few where research and innovation is discussed from a regional perspective. The Conference took place at an important time for regions. It was concluded that Europe as a whole is exiting from the economic crisis, but the speed of the exit varies from region to region. It is generally accepted that there is a correlation between regional innovation and GDP growth. Therefore, in order to reduce the gap between regions in terms of GDP, all regions, but particularly those categorised as less-developed, need to improve their regional research and innovation ecosystems. That means stronger synergies at the regional level between structural funds and research and innovation programmes at the European level such as Horizon 2020. WIRE VI gave all regions this chance to present the best practice examples and to benefit from sharing the experience.
The WIRE VI Conference had an influence on shaping policy providing an opportunity for the mid-term review of Europe 2020 strategy. After the WIRE 2015 Conference the results of the event and the key recommendations have been published and disseminated.
Measures such as a) dissemination and exploitation of results; b) communication activities to maximise impact were taken. Special attention has been paid to dissemination and exploitation of results. A user friendly Conference Web-site (including Twitter/Facebook) was developed (functional also after the end of the project) where Conference results, proceedings, presentations and recommendations were published. 5 press releases were prepared and widely disseminated at national and international level. The Conference results and recommendations were published and sent to mass media as well as circulated to relevant stakeholders and networks. The Conference has been broadcasted via webinar in the Internet. While communication activities were concentrated on communication strategy development serving as a guide during the whole implementation of the project. There were two different communication strategies - one targeting local, the other international audience. Interviews in radio and TV, which focused attention of older generation to the problems and solutions of research and innovation processes