The event represented a space for actors from all over Europe and outside to debate the future role of regions in promoting economic growth through innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy, with particular relevance to the evolution of the European Commission initiative "Regions for Economic Change"

The two day ERIK conference represented a space to discuss the progress made in this field with relevance to the evolution of the Regions for Economic Change initiative in terms of encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy through research and innovation capacities.

To this end the conference brought together and provided a meeting point for representatives from: the world of research, the world of enterprises and the world of public government.

The first day of the conference offered 4 Thematic Workshops – Industry Science Relations, Support for Start-Ups and Spin-Offs, Clusters and Business Networks and Innovation Finance. These sessions presented a number of good practices,collected and analysed by the ERIK network, providing an analysis of the proposed policy recommendations.

The second day aimed to present and gain feedback on the ERIK Network Policy Recommendations and the future of cohesion policy, in terms of improving knowledge and innovation for growth in the new programming period and within the Regions for Economic Change initiative. The day was divided into 1 Plenary Session "Knowledge for Regional Innovation" – bringing together representatives from the three sides of the "triple helix" of innovation policy: the world of research, enterprise and public government and 1 Round Table – Debate on ERIK Policy Recommendations in the framework of Regions of Economic Change.

Throughout the conference an Exhibition of Good Practices – showcased over 30 good practices collected from around Europe and available in the ERIK on-line database.

2 ERIK prizes were presented for good practice and exhibition poster.
The good practice was won by the Region of Algarve for their Regional Innovation Centre.
The poster prize was won by the region of Extremadura for their VIVERNET project.
Both good practices are available in the ERIK database.

The ERIK Conference was held at:
Hotel Bristol Stephanie, 91-93 Avenue Louise, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Tel: 0032 (0) 2 543 33 11. Fax: 0032 (0) 2 538 03 07 email