From Styria into the world…

 

Open Days 2009 – Yes we can! European Innovation

Workshop: “Innovation Policy: Strengthening our (regional) economy”

In Anlehnung an die „Open Days 2009 – European Week of Regions and Citizens“ in Brüssel (http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/od2009/index.cfm) werden europaweit lokale Events veranstaltet. Das Land Steiermark - als eine der 200 partizipierenden Partnerregionen, vertreten durch die ICS Internationalisierungscenter Steiermark GmbH - unterstützt diese Maßnahme (Regional Partnership: „Creative Action for Innovation“) und startete mit einem Regional Workshop zum Thema: „Innovation Policy: Strengthening our (regional) economy“ am 27.10.2009 im ICS, Graz.

Zu dieser Veranstaltung konnten wir zahlreiche Experten und regionale Stakeholder begrüßen, die durch einführende Impulsreferate Einblicke in die unterschiedlichsten Bereiche von Innovationspolitk (Brüsseler Verwaltung, AVL Graz, Joanneum Research) erhalten haben. Die Ergebnisse der anschließenden Diskussionsrunde sowie alle weiterführenden Unterlagen stehen Ihnen zum Download zur Verfügung.

Summary Discussion

Moderator: Dr. Boris Cizelj
>> Präsentation als .pdf Download 

• Introduction to EREF Network and its activities;
• Introduction to EREF-2010;
• Horizontal and Vertical aspects of European Innovation Policy;
• Inadequacies of EU Innovation Effort: low investment levels, funding researchers instead of competitive research projects, disparities among EU member states, and regions;
• Human Capital development is slow, and due to conditions Europe continues to suffer from brain-drain;
• Four categories of Innovation Performers /Austria in 2nd, Slovenia in 3rd category;
• Innovation support measures concentrated mostly on supply, however without stronger demand for innovation things will change very slowly. 

Erich Korzinek
>> Präsentation als .pdf Download

• Innovation is a typically private initiative, and this is not always fully recognized by innovation policy measures
• Financial incentives should primarily unlock the innovation potential of SMEs;
• More training of skills needed for job market of tomorrow;
• Standardization should be more systematically pursued, and Community patent made simpler and less expensive;
• The new Lisbon Agenda has to be based on innovation and creativity.

Peter Riedler
>> Präsentation als .pdf Download

• for successful innovation performance both basic and applied research is needed;
• corporate sector needs to be motivated for RTD effort by clear benefit/better product, better technology, increased market share;
• RTD public support should also be available to big companies /not only
  SMEs;
• Indirect RTD support /tax incentives/ are effective and should be further developed;
• Cluster and territorial approach to innovation could be complementary / if properly understood and implemented.

Dr. Christian Hartmann
>> Präsentation als .pdf Download

• Styria achieved 4.3% GERD /as high as Stuttgart;
• Impact of the present crisis could be used to accelerate /already overdue/ structural adjustment in European regions;
• Increased need for regional policy intelligence: foresight and monitoring, ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of programmes and institutions;
• Importance of cluster development, as part of innovation and structural policy - but target appropriate market niches, divide eggs between several baskets, and go for emerging technologies;
• Regions need active location policies /ensure accessibility, maintain infrastructure, and select investors who match the local; cluster profiles;
• Quality of education and teaching relevant competencies is crucial for enhancing innovation capacities;
• Fragmentation of European companies affects through sub/optimal operations volumes negatively their innovation potential.

Discussion

• interest for innovation should be developed already at very early age;
• discrepancies in technology skills could be reduced through adult education, but fully qualified teachers are needed for the job;
• globalization requires more internationalized political leadership at the regional and local level;
• enhancing regional innovation performance requires more comprehensive and proactive regional development policies;
• Complexity of innovation processes require an integrated policy approach.