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ERIK+ Second Call for Good Practices
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Following the successful first call for regional data held between April and May 2006, the ERIK+ network is pleased to announce the launch of its second call for the Collection of regional Good Practices (Programmes or Projects related to RPIA and other innovation regional schemes) open until the 30th of June.
All EU25 and NAC regions are warmly invited to participate in this initiative which aims to analyse existing expertise and experience in European regions in order to contribute to innovation policies in the framework of the next programming period.
Regions wishing to submit a Good Practice are kindly asked to contact the ERIK+ Secretariat at:
info@eriknetwork.net
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First ERIK+ Study Visit
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The first ERIK study visit will be held within the TWG "Support for Start-Ups and Spin-Offs" on the 11th and 12th July 2006 in Alentejo (Portugal).
The location was decided on the basis of the regional Good Practices inserted into the ERIK+ database which showed a wealth of interesting initiatives relating to the TWG.
The TWG agenda is available on line and includes a day and a half of presentations, knowledge exchange and practical visits.
For further information: info@eriknetwork.net
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ERIK+ Programme for 2006 Approved
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The new ERIK+ proposal extending ERIK's activities onto 2006 has been approved by the Commission.
ERIK+ Innovative Actions Network Programme will see participation of 13 partner regions plus 27 associated regions. As for the previous period, the network's focus will be on "Regional Economies based on Knowledge and Technological Innovation".
The network's activity will include an intense programme of study visits, good practice review and analysis, thematic working group meetings, workshops and a final conference.
Regions from all over Europe, as well as New Members States and New Accession Countries are invited to participate and benefit from the Network's activities and results by registering at
ERIK associate membership form
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Presentation of ERIK at eChallenges 2006
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The eChallenges e-2006 Conference Conference takes place 25 - 27 October in Barcelona, Spain. This is the sixteenth in a series of annual conferences supported by the European Commission, which bring together over 600 delegates from leading commercial, government and research organisations around the world to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice in related thematic areas.
The ERIK Network has been selected through a competitive call for participants to be presented at the conference Exhibition which showcases research results and applications through technology demonstrations and posters.
For more information on the event e-mail: secretariat@eChallenges.org
Or see the conference web site
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ERIK+ Study Visits and Activity Schedule
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ERIK+ foresees a significant schedule of Study Visits organised by the four Thematic Working Groups and focused on:
a) Clusters and Business Networks
b) Science and Industry Relations
c) Support for Start-Ups and Spin-Offs
d) Innovation Finance
The programme of Study Visits extends from July to January 2007.
The events are specifically targeted at twg regions including ERIK+ partners associate members and observer regions.
Download here the ERIK+ schedule of study visits and other activities.
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ERIK DATABASE - insertion of regional data
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Two successful calls for regional data have been carried out within the ERIK+ Network in order to build a database containing comprehensive data on regional innovation carried out or under implementation at a European level. The information inserted is now consultable on line.
However, the search for data continues. All those interested are invited to contribute to the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data on past and on on-going innovation programmes/initiatives existing in your region. The information requested specifically regards Regional Programmes of Innovative Actions (RPIA) and regional good practices (RPIA related or financed by other innovation regional schemes).
All candidate Good Practices will be widely promoted through:
- ERIK+ PROMOTIONAL TOOLS (Project Newsletter and website, other initiatives, etc.)
- ERIK+ FINAL CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS (May 2007) through possible presentation of selected GPs at the Thematic Working Group session and in the conference poster area.
For more information on how to participate in this important initiative contact: info@eriknetwork.net
To view the on-line data please click here
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Fourth ERIK+ Study Visit
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The fourth ERIK+ study visit will be held within the TWG "Clusters and Business Networks" on the 16th and 17th January 2007 in the Region of Veneto (Italy).
The location was decided on the basis of the regional Good Practices inserted into the ERIK+ database which showed a wealth of interesting initiatives relating to the TWG.
The TWG agenda is now available on line and includes a day and a half of presentations, knowledge exchange and practical visits.
Furthermore, the Study visit will be followed by a two day international conference on Clusters. More details below!
For further information on the study visit: info@eriknetwork.net
Clicke here to access good practices in the ERIK database
Download the agenda here
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Invitation to participate as Associate and Observer Regions
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The ERIK+ Network is keen to involve more regions in its activities and events. Regions are invited to participate either as Associates or as Observers.
Associate partners within ERIK+ may be represented by EU regions with an approved ERDF Regional Programme of Innovative Actions (RPIA) with special emphasis on the RPIA Strategic Theme: Regional Economies based on Knowledge and Technological Innovation. Observers regions are those regions who have not had a RPIA and therefore favours participation of new Member States and Accession Countries regions and any EU region with a significant interest towards the Network thematic areas.
Associates and Observers are entitled to take part in the Network activities on a self financing basis. They take advantage from networking, information exchange and benefit from the overall experience developed within the Network in the field of regional development and innovation.
Associate partner application form
Observer Partner application form
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ERIK Network Conference - 10 - 11 May 2007, Brussels
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The ERIK Network conference "KNOWLEDGE FOR REGIONAL INNOVATION – Towards Regions for Economic Change" was held in Brussels at the Hotel Bristol Stephanie (91-93 Avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels) on the 10/11 May 2007.
The ERIK conference represented a space to debate the role of regions in promoting economic growth through innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy.
Participants found at the conference:
4 Thematic Workshops
1 Plenary Session “Knowledge for Regional Innovation”
1 Round Table
1 Exhibition of Good Practices
2 ERIK prizes
For any queries or documentation requests: conference@eriknetwork.net
Click here for further information
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10-11 May Conference and Workshops presentations available online
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The 10-11 May Conference and Workshops presentations are now available on line.
The Conference presentations
The workshops presentations
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The ERIK Publication “Knowledge and Innovation for Regional Growth - Policy Recommendations Based on Good Practices”
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The ERIK publication is now available on line after being officially presented at the ERIK Conference in Brussels on the 10th and 11th of May.
In addition to presenting the network and continuing the work of experience exchange through the presentation of 8 case studies, the publication provides an informed contribution to the debate on regional policy on innovation and the knowledge based economy.
Feel free to contact the network to request a hard copy of the publication or to provide feedback.
Click here to download the publication
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| OTHER NEWS |
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"IInd World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society" - Brussels - 4th March 2005
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In the World Summit on the Information Society, the Local Authorities play a decisive role in the development of a common vision and understanding of the Information Society. They represent the contact point for their citizens, and their activities can be adapted to their specific needs and achieve a greater level of effectiveness.
The II World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society (Bilbao, from 9 to 11 November 2005) is the scenario where the strategy of Local Authorities worldwide on the Information Society will be debated and approved. As an introduction to this crucial event for decentralised authorities, the ERISA network has organized the
"IInd World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society" on Friday, 4th March 2005 (10.30am-1pm Committee of the Regions, room BEL51 (5th floor) Rue Belliard 101 Brussels)
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"Entrepreneurial innovation: networking key players and users" - call for proposals
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The call for proposals 'Entrepreneurial innovation: networking key players and users' has been launched by the European Commission. The call relates to sectors, clusters and networking of innovation actors by sector. The deadline for project submission is 27 January 2005.
More information
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INFO DAY on the Call "Regions of Knowledge 2" - Brussels - 18 February 2005
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ERRIN (European Regions Research & Innovation Network) organises an info day on the recently published call "Regions of Knowledge 2" in collaboration with the DG Research of the European Commission. The event will comprise a presentation of the Call by Dimitri Corpakis (DG Research) followed by question time and a session devoted to brainstorming and networking meetings with the regions that expressed a common interest to build Consortia.
Those interested in the seminar are requested to contact Ms Elena Bordini of ERRIN (elena.bordini@errin-brussels.org) with information regarding areas of interest in relation to the call. The seminar will take place in ERRIN premises (Avenue d'Auderghem 22-28, 1040 Brussels). It will host up to 120 participants.
More information about ERRIN
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Silver Economy in Europe 2005 - "Products and Services: State-of-the-art and Perspectives" - Bonn, Germany - 17 - 18 February 2005
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The first conference "Silver Economy in Europe 2005 - Products and Services: State-of-the-art and Perspectives" will take place in Bonn (Germany) on 17 - 18 February 2005. As part of the "Silver Economy" initiative it is held by the Federal State Ministry of Health, Social Affairs, Women and Family of North Rhine-Westphalia, together with partners from industry and sponsors (e.g. Metro Group, Tristyle, TeleAlarm, Attendo, Sennheiser, HTS etc.), and organised by empirica.
SEN@ER Network: 15 Partner regions have committed themselves to the "Silver Economy Network of European Regions" (SEN@ER). The SEN@ER network is still open to further regions and cities. In case of interest, please send your expression of interest to swikonf@empirica.com
Conference Programme
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"2nd World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society" - Brussels - 4th March 2005
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In the World Summit on the Information Society, the Local Authorities play a decisive role in the development of a common vision and understanding of the Information Society. They represent the contact point for their citizens, and their activities can be adapted to their specific needs and achieve a greater level of effectiveness.
The 2nd World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society (Bilbao, from 9 to 11 November 2005) is the scenario where the strategy of Local Authorities worldwide on the Information Society will be debated and approved.
As an introduction to this crucial event for decentralised authorities, the ERIS@ network has prepared the presentation of the "IInd World Summit of Cities and Local Authorities on the Information Society" that will take place on Friday, 4th March 2005
Please confirm your attendance before the 25th of February to bruselas@ej-gv.es or phone: 00- 322 285 45 10
For more information
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R2B - RESEARCH TO BUSINESS- 'Regions of Excellence Knowledge, The regional dimension of innovation policies', 1 March 2005, Bologna - Italy
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The event, promoted by the Councillor for Productive Activities Emilia-Romagna, BolognaFiere, ASTER, the Ministery of Productive Activities, ICE and SPRINT, with the collaboration of Confindustria, Confcooperative, IPI and the Industrial Heritage Program, will take place from the 28th February to 1st March 2005 at BolognaFiere.
A policy forum on 'Regions of Excellence Knowledge, The regional dimension of innovation policies' will take place on the 1st March at the Service Center Bologna Fiere, Block D, lounge from 14:00 onwards.
The forum will analyse the role of the regional level in the development of policies towards the knowledge economy and the contribution by the Regions to the achievement of the 'Lisbon Aims'. It will see the participation of Prof. Franco Mosconi from the University of Parma, Dr. Jean Marie Rosseau from the European Commission - Research Directorate General, and representatives from several European Union's most innovative regions. The theme is particularly important, because of the current phase of elaboration of the new European programmes for research (7th Framework Programme) and regional development (FESR 2007-20013).
more info at:
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The regional dimension of the European Research area - Valencia, Spain - 11 March 2005
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At the invitation of Valencia Region (Spain), the CPRM, in association with EURADA (European Association of Regional Development Agencies), organises a seminar on the regional dimension of the European Research Area and the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7).
Mr Achilleas Mitsos, Director General of Research at the European Commission, will be taking part in this event, as will a representative from the Directorate-General for Region Policy. The European Parliament and Committee of the Regions will also be represented.
The seminar will examine the issues related to the Regions’ involvement in the European Research Area and future framework programme for research and development. It will also discuss future regional policy guidelines with regard to research and innovation and the challenges of creating joined-up policies for research & innovation and regional development.
For more information please contact Mr Patrick Anvroin (patrick.anvroin@wanadoo.fr) or Ms Silja Kasmann (silja.kasmann@wanadoo.fr).
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Kick-off meeting of the Mutual Learning Platform (MLP) - Brussels - 18 April 2005
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The MLP is a new initiative addressed to European regions in the context of the European Council’s decision that investment in European research and development (R&D) must be increased to approach 3% of GDP by 2010. The MLP is to provide a flexible mechanism for interactive learning to regional authorities and relevant public and private organisations.
The MLP aims to support regions in developing their research strategies, taking into account their specific situation and needs. The main themes will be:
- regional foresight
- regional benchmarking
- regional profiles in research and innovation.
MLP activities are expected to result in concrete tools for regional policy makers involved in research and innovation activities. The activities will be coordinated by IRE secretariat.
Agenda and registration form
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"Regions of Knowledge 2" - call for proposals
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The European Commission has launched a call for proposals for KnowREG 2 projects. Consortia of Stakeholders that meet the call’s requirements are invited to submit a proposal on or before the allotted deadline (19 May 2005).
Projects should include activities in one or more of the following areas (this list is not exhaustive):
• Analysis of regional RTD performance and level of success of earlier regional research instruments
• Application of foresight, benchmarking and other policy-support tools to identify policy trends in technology-based regional development
• Mentoring in the field of implementing regional RTD policy
The Commission may provide funding for up to 100% of the project’s eligible additional costs, as understood by the FP6 instrument of Coordinating Actions (CA), with an upper cap of €500 000, for up to two years. There must be a minimum of three participants in the consortium from three different Member or Associated States, with at least one partner coming from an Objective 1 region or from a New Member State.
More information
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4th IRE Plenary Conference - Ljubljana (SI) - 7-8 June 2005
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4th Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) Plenary Conference is organised by the European Commission in collaboration with the IRE Secretariat and will be hosted by the City of Ljubljana.
The conference will give a comprehensive overview of regional support schemes in Europe. The European Commission will give first hand presentations on the latest policy developments and actions in the field of regional innovation.
More information
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8th IFF Science Days - Magdeburg, Germany - 22-24 June 2005
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8th IFF Science Days will be held at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation in Magdeburg, Germany. Debate will focus on the various applications of virtual and augmented reality in industry ("Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for Engineering, Testing and Operating Technical Systems").
The highlight of the event will the international conference: "Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Product Life Cycle Management and the Digital Factory".
For registration and more information please contact Mr Herbert Siegert (herbert.siegert@iff.fraunhofer.de).
More information about the Fraunhofer Institute
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New TrendChart Report - “Innovation Policy in Europe 2004”
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Innovation Policy in Europe 2004 provides an overview of the challenge faced by the EU25 Member States in improving the innovation performance of their economies. It then details the policy-mix and implementation practices in the EU25 to respond to these challenges. Finally, it provides a comparative benchmark against which the EU25 can be compared with that in place in other Associated and Candidate States in Europe, as well as three other key trading partner regions (North American Free Trade Organisation and Brazil, the Mediterranean countries and nine countries in Asia).
Download the report
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European Commission adopts CIP proposal
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On 6 April the Commission adopted the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) for the period 2007-2013. The CIP will be a single EU instrument designed as a comprehensive response to the call for bigger, simpler, and more visible and targeted tools in favour of enterprises. Building on the success of existing activities, the CIP will help develop the capacity of enterprise and industry to grow and innovate, augmenting its use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), environmental technologies and efficient and renewable energy sources. The proposed budget for the CIP is €3.7 billion.
More information
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IANIS+ Annual Conference 2006 - TOWARDS eREGIO 2010
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Challenges & Threats for the competitiveness of the regions in the Global Knowledge Economy
The IANIS+ Annual Conference in Blekinge, South Sweden, takes as its main theme the sharing of good practices relating to development of the information and knowledge-based societies and on the threats posed by global competition. Its seeks to address these in the frame of existing and emerging EC policies, and to highlight success stories and ways forward, from which we can all learn.
The conference offers a combination of strategic and thematic perspectives and is intended to appeal to a wide range of actors.
The programme of the conference will consist of plenary and parallel sessions. The first day will involve major plenary sessions focusing on policy and technology perspectives. The afternoon will be split in three parallel sessions: one will be on BENTLI project ( Benchmarking regional strategies for technological literacy), one on TRANSFORM project (Benchmarking and Fostering transformative use of ICT in EU regions ) and the third one on RIAPs best practice case studies from the IANIS + regions.
As for the second day, the participants of the conference can choose from a list of five different study visits to IS experiences in the Blekinge region. Themes for the study visits are closely connected to issues dealt within IANIS + workgroups. The afternoon session, focusing on global perspective, will also be dedicated to awarding the best practice case studies.
http://www.ianis.net/blekinge2006/
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DG Regional Policy – Innovating through the EU Regional Policy - Brussels, 12-13 June 2006
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The Directorate General for Regional Policy is organising a series of conferences under the general heading ‘Regions for Economic Change’.
These are meant for national and regional managing authorities as learning opportunities and to examine how Europe’s Cohesion Policy contributes to the Lisbon process.
In total there will be three events in the series, leading up to the fourth Cohesion Forum, which will take place in June 2007.
"Innovating through the EU Regional Policy Brussels" took place as part of this series of events in Brussels on the 12-13 June 2006.
Further information and presentations are available at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/conferences/innovating_june06/home_en.cfm
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OPEN DAYS - European Week of Regions and Cities
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OPEN DAYS - European Week of Regions and Cities
09 October 2006 - 12 October 2006
Committee of the Regions, Brussels
Jointly organised by the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, and partners from 106 regions and cities from 27 European countries, the OPEN DAYS 2006 will focus on regional development issues and on the preparation of the new generation of Structural Funds programmes between 2007 and 2013. More than 2000 regional policy stakeholders are expected in Brussels to participate in some 70 seminars, workshops and plenary sessions.
Further information, the Open Days programme and the registration form
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Survey on the Territorial Digital Divide - eris@ Network
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Access to broadband communications is increasingly important for the life chances of citizens, the competitiveness of enterprises, and the development and cohesion of Europe’s regions. And yet, the availability of broadband in Europe is quite uneven. In many cases, rural and sparsely-populated territories have no broadband provision due to the economic of competitive supply. Alternative technologies, such as satellite and wireless communications systems cannot compete on price without significant economies of scale.
Now, at the request of the European Commission (DG Information Society & Media), eris@ (in the frame of IANIS+) has launched a web-based survey amongst local and regional public authorities (available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish & Polish) to establish the extent of the broadband gap and the interest of these public authorities to share information, strategies and plans, and experience in overcoming the problem of the territorial digital divide. Moreover, the survey seeks to establish the interest in the possibility to create an on-line system for broadband demand aggregation on a pan-European basis.
We would urge each of you to arrange for completion of this survey on behalf of your region and, in addition, wherever appropriate, to encourage completion of the survey by those representing local authorities within regions.
Click here to access the survey
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Regions of Knowledge 2 – E-Rain Open Call for Participants
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E-RAIN, the European Network of Regional Innovation Agencies opens its doors to new potential members. E-RAIN’s main mission is to study innovation policy programmes and analyse their implementation procedures, in order to find the ways to enhance the efficiency of research and innovation programmes across Europe.
E-RAIN is very glad to invite practitioners and organisations involved in the design, development and implementation of research & innovation policy programmes to join the network and participate to the project activities, meetings and study visits.
For further information contact the coordinator at info@e-rain.it
Or visit the project web site
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DG Research - major event on European Research, Brussels - 7th of March 2007
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The European Commission's DG Research will organise under the German Presidency a major event on European Research in Brussels on the 7th of March 2007.
This event will mark the launch of the Seventh Framework Programme 2007-2013 (the main EU instrument to support research), which will devote close to €50 billion to European and international co-operation in science and technology. The overall aim of the event is to raise the level of political commitment to European research, expand media coverage and increase public awareness.
On this occasion, organisations will be invited to exhibit their European research activities and show their contribution to resolving today's problems and concerns. The exhibition will showcase European success stories in science and technology, and some of the remarkable achievements of EU-funded research projects. It will be a unique opportunity to reach the public and science journalists. The aim is to show that research (including in the social sciences and humanities) provides answers to the following crucial problems:
Where do we go?
Will we still work?
Better communication for tomorrow
What will we do without oil?
What will tomorrow’s transport be?
What does the Earth want?
Does the future lie in the infinite?
A minimum of 100.000 visitors over two weeks (7-18 March 2007) are expected to attend the exhibition.
For further information please contact directly:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Research
Information and Communication Unit
1049 Brussels
Tel: +32.2.295 99 71
Fax: +32.2.295 82 20
michel.claessens@ec.europa.eu
Or consult the corresponding website.
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II European Conference on Financing Innovation and Creation of New Technology Based Firms
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Following the successful organisation of the 1st Conference held in Seville in November 2002, the Andalusian Institute of Technology (IAT), the Agency of Innovation and Development in Andalusia (Agencia IDEA) and the Network of Technological Areas in Andalusia (RETA) is holding the second European Conference on Financing Innovation and Creation of New Technology Based Firms. The conference will be held in Seville on the 23rd and 24th of November 2006 and aims to bring together and favour exchange of good practices between key agents in European Innovation, such as entrepreneurs, investors, intermediate bodies and public authorities responsible for financing innovation.
The conference aims to present successful experiences on the use of certain Financing Innovation models in different European regions and to explore different existing mechanisms for the creation of technology based companies. In also aims to favour an appropriate platform for the learning and assimilation of good practices that allow the policy makers to plan more appropriate actions for the development of the Financing Innovation strategies and the different key agents of the system to adopt the most suitable mechanisms for the improvement of their actions within these matters.
For more information contact: europa@iat.es
Or visit the web site
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Mutual Learning Platform - Results Available
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The Mutual Learning Platform (MLP) for research and innovation in EU regions has encouraged regional policy makers to share their experiences and enable regions to participate fully in the knowledge-based society.
A joint initiative of the Commission’s Enterprise and Industry, Research, Regional Policy and Information Society DGs, with the active involvement of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the platform brought together a number of existing Community initiatives such as regional foresight activities, the European Innovation TrendChart and Scoreboard, and the Regions of Knowledge pilot actions.
The final conference was held in Brussels on the 13th of October.
The presentations from this event and the final reports from the MLP are now available on line
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IRE workshop on regional innovation systems
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The Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) network is organisng a workshop entitled ‘Effective regional innovation systems’, which will take place in Lahti on the 30th November – 1st December.
The aim of this workshop is to provide participants with a deeper understanding of what a regional innovation system is and how it functions.
Speakers from member regions in the IRE network will share their experience on how to further develop and strengthen their innovation systems in order to achieve long-term success. Practitioners will also share their views on what the roles and contributions of key institutions should be in an efficient regional innovation system.
Further information, including the registration form, is available here.
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Creativity Festival – Florence, Fortezza Da Basso – 30th November – 2 December 2006
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Creativity: thoughts, innovation and research. Creativity through five thematic routes: pure art and art applied to industry, the city and the territory, communication and means of communication, the university and research, the enterprise and innovation. Four days of meetings, exhibitions, seminars, laboratories and artistic performances.
The Creativity Festival addresses the theme of innovation with a new and highly participative outlook, bringing together exhibition and performance. In fact the pavilions of the Fortezza da Basso (Florence) will be filled with exhibition spaces which are not “closed” but scenery for the initiatives in agenda.
In this first edition of the fair , the festival welcomes the Geography Fair, the Job Fair, the Research and Innovation Stock Market, the Vespucci Prize and the laboratories of youth workshops recently formed by the Istituto degli Innocenti of Florence.
Entrance to the festival is free!
For more information on the event and the programme itself please see the official web site (in Italian)
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Technological Science and Innovation in the EU: Latest Eurostat report
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In 2004 high technology products represented around 20% of imports and exports in the EU25. This represents 2 million full time jobs in the area of research and innovation.
Each year the report published by Eurostat analyses data in the sector of science, technology and innovation in Europe.
The report also underlines the fact that Germany and France together make up 40% of people employed in research and development in the EU25.
Further information is available on the Commission web site.
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Research – EU launches Joint Technology Initiatives
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On the 21st of November the EU launched its Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) in an attempt to make Europe more competitive and increase its innovative capacity. The JTI brings together resources from private sector, national and EU programmes in order to achieve common research objectives throughout the European Union.
The first of these initiatives to be launched, at the beginning of 2007, will be ARTEMIS, geared towards promoting European research on incorporated computerised systems, which are becoming more and more important in numerous strategic industrial sectors. This initiative will be a model for those that follow.
Thanks to these initiatives industrial partners and member states will be able to align their own investments with those of the UE. In addition to private and national funding, the EU budget for ARTEMIS will be around 3 billion euro over the next 7 years.
Further information is available on the EU web site.
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State Aid for research, development and innovation
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On the 22 of November the European Commission adopted a new legal norm, which will come into force from the 1st of January 2007, which indicates to member states how to concede state aid for research, development and innovation. This new normative framework aims to help member states to ensure that the national government becomes a supplementary instrument to stimulate research, development and innovation. In particular, the adopted text defines the orientative framework for the various types of state aid, such as aid to research and development projects, aid to young innovative entrepreneurs and aid to innovation poles capable to encouraging further investment in the area of research.
Click here for the normative framework
Click here for questions and answers
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Regional policy responses to demographic challenges: Conference in Brussels.
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On the 25th – 26th January 2007 a conference will be organised in Brussels by the European Commission entitled “Regional policy responses to demographic challenges”.
During the event examples of good practices from European regions will be presented and DG Regio to provide structural fund managing authorities with the possibility to learn from these experiences. Over 500 representative and experts from national regional and local administrations, networks, equal opportunity organisation and universities are expected to attend the event.
To register click here
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European Enterprise Awards 2006 - winners announced
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The European Enterprise Awards aimed to identify and showcase examples of excellence in the world of enterprise in the following five categories: Entrepreneurial Trailblazer Award; Enterprise Support Award; Red Tape Reduction Award; Investment in People Award; Responsible Entrepreneurship Award.
On the 7th of December the European Commission awarded the overall European Enterprise Award to the Y4 group of Finland which unites 36 public organisations from central Finland. The prize was awarded as the Y4 group has brought about “a cultural change by spreading an entrepreneurial mentality in all different spheres”, encouraging citizens to become entrepreneurs.
For more information on the awards click here
For more information on the 13 finalists click here
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Parliamentary Approval for the 7th Framework Programme
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On the 30th of November the European Parliament adopted, after its second reading, the 7th Framework programme (7FP) for research and technological development in the European Union. The 7FP, starting from next year and running until 2013, makes 54 billion euro available for European research.
More information is available here
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7th Framework Programme: Expression of Interest for Experts and Organisations
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On the 14th of December the European Commission published two invitations for expressions of interest aimed at selecting a list of independent experts and of organisations destined to assist the Commission service in carrying out tasks linked to the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development.
Organisations and individuals interested in participating should express interest by consulting the following links:
Invitation to individual experts
Invitation to organisations
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Open Days 2007: candidacy for 2007 edition opened
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On the 13th of December at Scotland House in Brussels, the 2007 edition of the OPEN DAYS, which will be held form the 8th to the 11th of October, was officially launched. The event was presented by Graham Meadows, General Director of the DG Regio and Gerhard Stahl, General Secretary of the Committee of the Regions.
Regions and cities interested in participating should present their candidacy before the 29th for January 2007.
Click here for more information and application details
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INSURE Final Seminar
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A flexible framework for indicators for sustainability in regions using system dynamics modelling - 15-16 January 2007, FEEM, Milan, Italy
The final seminar of the 6FP project INSURE, organised by the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, will be held in Milan on 15-16 January 2007.
The INSURE Framework 6 project is breaking new ground with a 'system dynamics' toolkit for sustainable development (SD) at the regional level. This takes a holistic approach, with a prototype package of 4 system tools. The Baseline explores the scope of an SD issue or agenda: the Mapping identifies the fuzzy and qualitative factors: the Model quantifies the full dynamics of the system, with software which is transferable to any NUTS 2 region: and the System Index analyses the most critical factors. The toolkit has many practical applications to SD decision-making, evaluation, consensus building, education and training. It also has great academic significance, for the development of SD analysis, and for the theoretical foundations of SD knowledge and intelligence.
The seminar aims to provide an overview on developments in SD policy and benchmarking across Europe. It will bring together policy-makers and consultants with SD practitioners and researchers. It will compare the INSURE prototype toolkit and demonstration results, with other relevant experiences, in order to explore ways forward for integrated SD planning and policy-making.
Click here to access the official website
Click here for the programme and registration form
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International Conference on Clusters - Veneto 18 / 19 January 2007
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Organised by Veneto Innovazione and based around the e-Cluster project launched under Regional Programme of Innovative Actions, this event will focus on the future of clusters: how to structure suitable organisational models, how to foster networking and transnational cooperation, which inputs can give technologies and policies for cluster development.
The conference will then bring together policy makers, EU experts, academics, district managers and practitioners coming from around 20 European regions, who will compare their different experiences in order to compose a multifaceted but comprehensive framework and pave the way to innovative clusters for European Competitiveness.
Entrance is free but places are limited!
Click here for more information
Click here for the conference programme
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EU Funding for Research and Development: Eurostat report published
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Eurostat has published a report on spending on research and development in the European Union.
According to the data published, in 2005 R&D spending in research and development in the European Union was equal to 1.84% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The report highlights the worrying fact that in 2004 research and development accounted for 2.68% of the GDP in the United States and 3.18% in Japan.
Click here for further information
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The impact of ICT: Conference in Brussels
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On the 30th of January 2007 a conference will be held in Brussels with the aim of analysing recent developments in the ICT sector.
In particular, during the event the impact of these new technologies on work organisation, economic growth and the dynamics of the employment sector will be analysed.
Click here for the conference web site
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IRE: Latest Events
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Keep yourself up to date on the events organised by IRE (Innovating Regions in Europe) by visiting their events page at:
IRE calender of events
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Research systems and policies in the EU: European Commission launches new Information Platform
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The European Commission has launched a new on-line technological platform for EU research systems and policies. The platform, named EUROWATCH, was financed within the 6th framework programme for research and supports the creation of the European Research Space (ERS).
In particular the platform aims to provide political decision makers and political analysers working in the area of science and research with information and analysis on the evolution of research policies in the European union.
More information is available here
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Registration Opened - Regions for economic change: 'Fostering competitiveness through innovative technologies, products and healthy communities – 7/8 March, Brussels
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The European Commission initiative for the period 2007-2013 "Regions For Economic Change" is organising its first annual conference in Brussels on the 7th and 8th of March 2007. Organised by collaboration with the Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General and other Commission services together with the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions, the event will see the launch of the "Regional Innovation Awards" seeking for best European practice and innovation in regional policy and nine showcasing strategies, experiences and projects intended to provide learning and networking opportunities for Structural Funds managing authorities.
The call for proposals was launched on the 8th of December 2006 and was closed on the 15th of January 2007. Presentations are currently being selected and will be based on projects, case studies or other experiences at regional, local or interregional level in the context of the conference themes.
Click here for more information and registration
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Results of the CIP Information Day – Available on-line
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The European Commission has recently published on-line the presentations given during the information day held in Brussels on the 12 of January for the first call for proposals published within the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).
The call will finance services of support for enterprises and innovation and will close on the 2nd of April 2007.
Download the presentations here
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First CIP Call for Proposals Published
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Specific Call for Proposals - CIP - "Services in support for business and innovation"
The first call for the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme was published by the European Commission on the 15th of December 2006.
The aim of this call is to implement a single network providing integrated services in support of business and innovation in Europe. Building on the strengths and achievements of the current Euro Info Centres and the Innovation Relay Centres, the new network aims to enhance the competitiveness and innovation capacity of European companies, in particular SMEs.
An information day will be held on the 12th of January 2007 in Brussels.
For more information and registration for the information day see the DG Enterprise and Industry web site:
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Scottish Innovating Nation Conference, 21 - 23 February 2007
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The Scottish Innovative Actions Programme is hosting an event in February to allow all those with an interest in innovation to come together to hear about the creativity and challenges faced by projects supported by the Programme.
This event will take place in Edinburgh on 21 to 23 February 2007.
An exhibition of supported projects, the Programme’s funders and other agencies supporting innovation in Scotland will be opened at 1.00pm by Nicol Stephen, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.
Further information on the conference, together with the full Programme and how to book is available here
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Seventh Framework Programme – Calls for Proposals Published
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On the 22nd of December the European Commission published a series of calls for proposals within the 7th Framework Programme for Innovation and Research for research, technological development and implementation. Also published is the call for the 7FP Euratom programme which support research and training in the nuclear sector.
There are a total of around 40 calls within the following specific programmes: Cooperation, Ideas, People, Capacity and Euratom.
Deadlines and funding vary according to the individual call.
Click here for further information
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Public Consultation - OP Transnational Cooperation in Central Europe
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Public Consultation on the Operative Programme for Transnational Cooperation in Central Europe
On the 8th of February the new operative programme 2007-2013 and the environmental report proposed for central Europe, in the context of INTERREG IIIB, were published on the CADSES site for public consultation. The programme area “Central Europe” concerns Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine (as partner state).
Authorities are invited to express their observations before the 28th of February.
On the basis of the consultation results, the countries involved in the “Central Europe” transnational task force will produce the definitive version of the operative programme to be presented to the Commission in March 2007.
Click here to access the web site
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IRE Workshop: Increasing companies’ innovation capacities - 29 - 30 March 2007 - Riga
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The aim of the workshop, organised by the IRE Secretariat in collaboration with Latvian Investment and Development Agency, is to present successful examples from the Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) network members of initiatives that encourage traditionally non-innovative companies to start to innovate. Concrete schemes will illustrate ways of raising these companies’ interest in innovation, facilitating their start of innovation activities, and creating in-house innovation capacities. In addition, group discussions will allow participants to exchange experiences with each other.
Experienced IRE members will give illustrative presentations about the promotion of innovation in their own regions, for instance:
innovation training for companies in Shannon (IE),
promotion of innovation in traditional firms in Castilla y León (ES),
training of innovation managers in SMEs in Bretagne (FR),
placement of academics in low-tech companies in North Sweden (SE).
The registration form is available on line. Pre-reserved rooms for special conference rates are available until 10 March.
Click here for further information
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European Commission approves the European Research Council
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On the 22nd of February the European Commission officially adopted the European Research Council (ERC), the first pan European funding organism aiming to sustain advanced research projects in all science sectors. In particular this new instrument should support the best ideas in the science sector, independently of their geographical origin and without addressing pre-determined themes. The new centre, which will be officially opened on the 27th and 28th of February in Berlin, plans to provide over 300 thousand euro in 2007 and comes under the sub-programme “Ideas” in the 7th framework programme.
The first call for proposals from researchers at the beginning of their career was published on the 22nd of December 2006 and remains open until the 25th of April 2007.
The ERC has a budget of 7.5 billion euro for the period 2007-2013 and is an autonomous organ, composed of 22 high level European science professionals.
Click here for further information on the call
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Innovation performance in the EU: New Innovation Scoreboard published
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For the fourth consecutive year the difference between member states in the sector of innovation has been reduced. This is highlighted by the report produced is prepared by the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT) assisted by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission which analyses European performance in the innovation sector.
The report presents a comparative analysis of innovation tendencies in European countries, the United States and Japan. In particular, the report shows how the Nordic countries and Switzerland continue to be the best at world level in the sector in question.
The report is available on line.
Click here for annexes sumamrising the information.
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7th Framework Programme: 4 new calls published
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On the 28th of February the European Commission published 4 news calls for proposals within the 7th Framework Programme related to the sub-programme “People”.
The Marie Curie calls will finance “Intra-European fellowships for career development”, “Industry-academia partnerships and pathways”, “International outgoing fellowships for career development” and “International incoming fellowships”.
The call fiche and additional documents are available here.
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Open Days 2007 – Call for Speakers
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The European Commission (DG REGIO) has opened its call for speakers for the 2007 Open Days which will be held between the 8th and 11th of October in Brussels.
Under the heading “Making in Happen: Regions and Cities Deliver Growth and Jobs”, around 100 speakers will be chosen according to their proposals on one of the following themes:
- Attracting investors: Regions and cities show how it works;
- Proximity matters: Clusters and regional development;
- Spending it wisely: Public-private partnerships and financial engineering;
- Crossing borders: Networking and best practice supporting growth and jobs;
- Checking delivery: How the new programmes are implemented.
Priority will be given to contributions from Structural Funds managing authorities and implementing bodies.
The deadline for submission is the 28th of March 2007.
Click here for more information and the application form
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Six Countries Innovation Policy Network - Workshop 19-20 April 2007
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Forfás, a member of the Six Countries Innovation Policy Network and a partner in the RegStrat project, is pleased to invite you to the 6CP Spring Workshop in Ireland.
The Workshop - From Innovation Policy Research to Local Policy Implementation: "Strategic policy intelligence guiding concrete innovation support measures" will take place in the RDS Members Club, Dublin, Ireland on 19 - 20 April 2007.
The workshop will focus on how strategic policy intelligence (tools) can, in a regional context, guide concrete innovation support measures. In what way and to what extent can ongoing innovation policy instruments absorb and implement policy intelligence?
This workshop aims to bring together policy research experts and those responsible for policy implementation and to link strategic policy intelligence theory with practical research opportunities.
Participants should register before the 30th of March.
Click here for workshop, registration and logistic details
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COST Open Call for Proposals to support Scientific and Technical Collaboration in Europe
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On the 28th of February the open call for proposals from COST (European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technological Research) was published in the official journal.
COST invites researchers throughout Europe to submit proposals for new COST Actions contributing to the scientific, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes involving young groups’ ideas are especially welcome. The proposals must be presented by researchers from at least 5 COST member states.
Financial support of around 100,000 euro a year will be available for a 4 year period.
Proposals must be submitted by the 30th of March 2007.
Click here for more information and the application form.
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European Inventor of the Year 2007: 12 Finalists Named
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On the 15th of March the European Commission announced the 12 finalists who will compete for the European Innovation Prize.
The finalists running for the prize, which was created by the European Commission and the European Patent Office, were chosen by an independent international jury are are divided into 4 categories: industry, SMEs/Research, Investment in non European countries and Lifetime Achievement.
The prizes for each category will be awarded on the 18th of April in Munich.
Further information is available on the official web site
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Regional Programme of Innovative Actions - Liguria Region
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The Italian National Research Council (C.N.R.) has taken the role of leader of operations and coordinator for the implementation of the Programme of Innovative Actions of the Liguria Region.
This programme has a budget of 6 million euros in public funding, destined to finance the development of six Action lines all converging towards the possibility of creating technological innovation through efficient management tools, knowledge producers, training and business.
A year from the launching of the projects, significant results have already been recorded. These results may positively impact competitiveness of some products, processes or services with foreseeable financial returns to benefit the businesses adhering to the programs partnership.
Even the positive reflections on qualified employment lead to the conclusion that the setting up of the project makes an example of good practice to be followed; not just in Liguria but also by the partners of the Erik network, for future regional interventions with incentives promoting competition among industrial districts.
Download the RPIA Liguria newsletter here
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Regions for Economic Change - Commissioner Launches New Initiatives
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During the two day conference “Regions For Economic Change: Fostering Competitiveness through Innovative Technologies, Products and Healthy Communities” the Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner launched two new commission initiatives.
The first RegioStars 2008, is the new annual awards event for innovative projects in regional development. RegioStars are important to the 268 regions of the EU as they provide the opportunity to identify, highlight and share good practice. Proposals for RegioStars 2008 can be sent by 29 June 2007.
The second concerns the regional case studies collected from all over Europe which are now available for consultation on the DG Regio web site. In order to encourage exchanges of experience in the area of innovation, regions can find case studies, , in English or French, of projects from the regional programmes of innovative actions, 2000-2006.
Click here for more information on how to participate in RegioStars 2008
Click here to access the case studies
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European Conference: Universities as Engines of European Border Regions, 14-16 June 2007
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The European Conference "From the Periphery to the Centre – Universities as Engines of European Border Regions” will be held from the 14th to the 16th June 2007, in Sønderborg (Denmark) and Flensburg (Germany)
The conference is organised by: German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), University of Flensburg, University of Southern Denmark, University of Applied Sciences Flensburg, European University Association (EUA)
Participants will include around 200 representatives from higher education institutions situated in border regions within the EU or on both sides of the EU’s external borders; actors involved in regional policy, regional planning and business in European border regions
Europe is growing together most notably at its borders. The Europeanisation of formerly national policies provides border regions with increasing opportunities to step from the national periphery into the European centre. At the same time, border regions serve as testing laboratories for the future of European integration.
Thematically, the conference encompasses the whole spectre of the so-called “knowledge triangle” Education-Research-Innovation with regard to cross-border cooperation of European higher education institutions. Within this framework, the issues “mobility” and “social and economic development of border regions” will be focussed on.
Click here to access the conference programme
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Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) - New call published
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On the 12th of April the European Commission published a new call for proposals within the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP).
The objective of the call is to implement a three year project of awareness raising and implementation in the field of Intellectual Property, mainly concerning SMEs.
The call is open until the 22nd of June.
Visit the web site for further information
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IANIS+ Annual Conference 2007 - June 13-15 2007 - Bilbao
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The IANIS+ Annual Conference 2007 “Innovation, ICT & Creativity : Knowledge-based regions for a competitive Europe” will take place in Bilbao, Spain, on June 13th-15th 2007.
The annual conference in Bilbao 2007 is supported by the Basque Country and the European Commission, DG Regional Policy. Participation in this event is free of charge.
The programme of the conference will consist of plenary sessions, thematic workgroup sessions and project sessions. The major plenary sessions will focus on policy, technology and global perspectives. The workgroup thematic sessions will be held simultaneously for 6 IANIS+ workgroups: eGovernment, eBusiness, eLearning, eHealth, eInfrastructure and Indicators & Benchmarking. Draft versions of the Guides to Good practice that are currently being prepared by each of the workgroups will be presented as well as the best regional case studies in relevant thematic domains. The project sessions will consist of two projects this year: TERREGOV (Impact of eGovernment on Territorial Government Service) and TRANSFORM (Benchmarking and Fostering transformative use of ICT in EU regions).
The conference will also offer participants six different study visit opportunities to IS experiences in the Bilbao region.
Click here to access the conference programme
Or visit the official web site
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Call for the best e-government practices in Europe
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The third European eGovernment Awards, organised by the European Commission, will select good practices on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in public service.
The winners and the most outstanding eGovernment solutions will be presented at the fourth Ministerial eGovernment Conference 2007 on 20 September in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Conference to be held under Portuguese presidency is the main European eGovernment event in 2007; it will feature achievements across European Member States and showcase good practices, as well as look towards the future. The cases selected as Finalists for the European eGovernment Awards 2007 will play a prominent role in the Conference, with the opportunity to exhibit at the event itself.
All public administrations in Europe (national, regional, local, etc.) that deliver eGovernment services and solutions can apply. Submissions from EU Member States, candidate countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland will be accepted. Applications must be in current use and supported by a public sector actor.
The call closes on 11 June 2007 at 16:00 CET.
To contact the helpdesk: info@epractice.eu
Click here for further information and for a case submission
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EBN Annual Congress - 20 -22 June, Kent
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The 2007 EBN Congress "Global Innovation Bridges : A new Generation of Business and Innovation Centres" will take place from 20th to 22nd of June, in Canterbury – Kent (UK), in partnership with the Kent County Council (KCC) and Technology Enterprise Kent (BIC Kent TEK).
The EBN Kent Congress "Global Innovation Bridges" will be the platform to discuss the role that Europe can play today as a global actor, and as an accelerator in innovation and small business development.
High level speakers will cover the following issues:
- Rethinking SMEs business model within the global arena
- Bench-marking outside Europe – from the US, the Americas and from the rest of the world
- Teaming up public policies and private sector
- Partnering with large corporations for an acceleration of the Lisbon Strategy
- The Road Map for the future generation of BICs, Incubators and Innovation Centres
- Transatlantic Cooperation betweens SMEs in innovation and technology
Click here to access the Congress web site
Click here to dowload the Congress brochure
Click here to see the Congress programme
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DISTRICT interregional Workshop: “Innovation Pathways and Knowldge Economy”
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The DISTRICT Regional Framework Operation at work. In coordination with the whole DISTRICT Partnership and the Prato Municipality, Tuscany Region - Lead Partner of the Operation - organizes an international workshop on "The DISTRICT Regional Framework Operation at work: INNOVATION PATHWAY AND KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY" to be held in Prato, at the City Council Home, on the 19th of June, 2007.
By analyzing the first results of the DISTRICT subprojects, the workshop will deal with new trends towards more globalised markets and increasing links between research, knowledge and technology, learn from government policy experiences and share best practices. It will examine promising new policy options to better link knowledge and business communities and help turning technologies into market opportunities.
The workshop's sessions will see the analysis of subprojects experiences, presented by Subproject Lead Partner, for each thematic component. The final round table - seeing the participation of european, national and regional actors - will dwell on future perspectives of Interregional Cooperation in the next European programming period.
The Workshop will be preceded by the RFO Steering Committee on the 18th and followed by an Evaluation Meeting with regional experts on the 20th.
For information and registration
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European Commission Publishes Evaluation Guideline for Structural Funds
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The European Commission has published a working document entitled “Measuring Structural Funds Employment Effects”, approved by the Committee on Coordination of Funds (COCOF) relative to the programming period 2007-2013.
Evaluation during the programming period, known as “continuous evaluation”, represents a new approach concerning evaluation of cohesion policy intervention. The document sets out guidance for following the implementation of an operative programme and changes to the external environment, with the aim of better understanding the effects, the results and the level of advance towards long term impact.
The new legal framework foresees flexible formulas for the scope, the organisation and the timing of this continuous evaluation.
Click here to download the document
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Innovating Nation - Delivering Change, Tuesday 26 June 2007
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The Scottish Innovative Actions Programme, The Scottish Executive and Scotland Europa cordially invite you to an afternoon discussion and reception with key Scottish partners engaged in Innovation policy and project development.
Learn about the outcomes from the recently completed Scottish Innovative Actions Programme and directly from three projects offering concepts and tools for innovation management, insights into how innovation policy can be implemented and a Higher Education knowledge connection for the Business Sector.
This afternoon discussion will be an opportunity to learn from how different regions are approaching these issues, building on reflections on Scotland's recent experience, through the Scottish Innovative Actions Programme, to stimulate discussion.
The discussion will begin at 16h30 and will be followed by a drinks reception.
Click here for registration and more information
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Commission documents on ERA and Knowledge Transfer
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The communication entitled “Improving knowledge transfer between research institutions and industry across Europe: embracing open innovation – Implementing the Lisbon agenda” underlines the need for university and research staff who are skilled in knowledge transfer, and goes on the emphasise that all researchers should have basic knowledge transfer skills and that an entrepreneurial way of thinking should be promoted.
The Green Paper entitled “The European Research Area: New Perspectives” assesses the progress made in the construction of a European Research Area and outlines the Commission’s vision for its future.
Click here to download the Communication on Knowledge Transfer
Click here to download the Green Paper on ERA
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Joint Technology Initiatives Launched
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A new era of research and development funding began on the 15th of May with the adoption of proposals by the European Commission to launch the first ever Europe-wide public-private R&D partnerships. The Commission presented two Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs): ARTEMIS, for embedded computing systems and IMI, the Innovative Medicines Initiative.
These JTIs will pool industry, Member States and Commission resources into targeted research programmes. JTIs will move away from the traditional case-by-case public funding of projects approach towards large scale research programmes dedicated to common strategic research targets.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on JTIs
Click here for information on ARTEMIS
Click here for information on IMI
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Research and Development in European Enterprise: New Commission Study Published
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Research and Development in European Enterprise: New Commission Study Published
On the 11th of June the European Commission unveiled its new publication entitled “Key Figures 2007 on Science, Technology and Innovation” which highlights the intensity of research and development (R&D). In other words, the report states that spending on R&D expressed in terms of % of the European GDP has been stagnant since the mid 1990’s while Japan, China and South Korea have increased their efforts in the sectors in questions. Furthermore, the investment deficit in R&D in comparison to the United States is the main cause of R&D weakness in European enterprise.
Click here to access the report.
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New European Commission web site for SMEs
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The European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) has launched a web portal for SMEs which provides access to information on the whole range of EU policies, legislation, programmes and initiatives relevant to Europe's small and medium-sized enterprises.
Information is provided on:
- EU funding for SMEs
- Support services across Europe
- On-line tools
- Going international
- The EU's SME Envoy
- SME policy in Europe
- Promoting entrepreneurship
- A single market in Europe
- Making SMEs more competitive
- EU sectoral policies
Click here to access the site
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Forum of Innovation and Tourism (INTO), 26-28 September 2007 - Palma de Mallorca
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The forum of Innovation and Tourism - INTO - organised by the Balearic Islands Government, celebrates its fourth edition from the 26th to the 28th of September 2007 in Palma de Mallorca.
The forum creates a platform debate for research proposals approaching in this occasion Tourism Branding for the tourism trend activities.
The forum intends to create a wide debate on the acceptance of Tourism Branding within the tourism industry which integrates the chain of value of the tourist product towards new paradigms. The specific objectives are:
- To offer real experiences from the private sector in tourism destinations.
- To promote a suitable forum that allows the exchange among experts,
professionals and businesses, originating an improvement of the tourist
product.
- To introduce strengths and opportunities in innovations that allow
transfer of knowledge for the tourism sector.
Click here for more information and for registration
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EU Interregional Cooperation Forum: Celebrating INTERREG IIIC – Launching INTERREG IVC
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The Interregional Cooperation Forum “Celebrating INTERREG IIIC – Launching INTERREG IVC” will be held on the 20-21 September 2007 in Lisbon , Portugal. It mark the launch of INTERREG IVC, the new programme for interregional cooperation, and show how INTERREG IIIC is already helping Europe's regions work together and improve regional development.
The forum will:
• Bring together representatives of EU regional and local authorities, members of European institutions, INTERREG IIIC and IVC staff and other regional development experts;
• Highlight achievements of regions working together and sharing regional development experience under INTERREG IIIC;
• Launch the new programme for interregional cooperation: INTERREG IVC, and open the first call for applications.
In parallel to the programmed sessions, there will be an exhibition, meeting areas and other support for participants to find partners.
Click here for more information
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International Conference in Ancona (IT) - 4/5 october
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The conference entitled: “The Contribution of Regional and Local Institutions to Cohesion Policy: The Dimension of Territorial Cooperation in the Lisbon Strategy Context” is organised within the framework of the ALSO Project (INTERACT), whose final goal was to investigate the contribution that territorial cooperation can offer to the achievement of Lisbon and Gothenburg Strategy Objectives.
The organisers have opened 2 calls related to the conference. The first is a call for presentations during the round tables on the above mentioned themes. The second is a photo competition which invites professional and amateur photographers to give their contribution on the issue of research, education, know-how, new technologies, renewable resources, etc.
ALSO Project website.
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EBN Clusters Seminar - 13 November 2007 - Louvain-La-Neuve (Belgium)
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The EBN Seminar entitled "The International Dimension of Clusters" will be held on the 13th of November 2007 in Louvain-La-Neuve (Belgium). The seminar qill be hosted by CréaWal Forum.
The Seminar aims at show-casing the methodologies and best practices of internationalisation and clustering. The objective of the seminar is to reinforce the thesis that operating within a network of entrepreneurs, rather than as single actors, is a key factor for the SMEs’ growth and competitiveness. The Seminar will also discuss the importance of upgrading the quality of regional networks by bringing them onto an international dimension.
EBN will gather presentations from “Clusters experts” from both the high-tech and low-tech sectors, demonstrating that, regardless of their sector of activity, building international clusters draws the path for local entrepreneurs to grow global and outreach the international market.
The seminar will target networks and cluster managers, operators of Business & Innovation Centres (BICs), Incubation Centres Managers, and entrepreneurs wishing to learn more about the techniques of internationalisation.
Conference languages: French and English.
Visit the EBN web site for more information
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REFORM Conference - 20/21 November 2007 - Lower Silesia, Poland
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On the 20th and 21st of November 2007, the REFORM project will host a two day conference in Lower Szilesia (Poland).
The conference will concentrate on RTD and innovation policy, but will also focus further on specific key issues, as follows :
- Foresight and Scenario Development
- Technology Transfer and RTD
- Regional Innovation Strategies and Enterprise Development
- The role of Technology Parks and Incubation Centers in RTD
They key objective of the conference will be to disseminate the learning and outcomes of the REFORM project, including the regional foresight activities, the Action Plans and the new Mentoring Programme.
For further information please contact:
Barbara Buryta
+48-74 888 09 23
eic@darr.pl
Or click here to visit the website
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InterCluster 2007 - Brussels, 6 & 7 December 2007
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On the 6th and 7th of December the first European conference dealing with strategic cooperation between clusters will be held in Brussels.
This conference will be an opportunity to review the entire range of measures planned by the European Commission with respect to clusters – it will be a real starting point for a dynamic of European inter-cluster cooperation.
Visit the web site for more information and on-line registration
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DG Regional Policy 2006 - Events
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See upcoming events at the DG Regional Policy site:
DG Regional Policy Calender of Events
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IANIS Network: Latest Events
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Find out what events ERIK+’s sister network IANIS (Innovative Actions Network for the Information Society) is holding by visiting their website at:
Ianis calender of events
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DG Regional Policy 2007 - Events
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See upcoming events at the DG Regional Policy site:
DG Regional Policy calendar of events
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IRE: Latest Events
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Keep yourself up to date on the events organised by IRE (Innovating Regions in Europe) by visiting their events page at:
IRE calendar of events
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URBACT II - Technical Document now available
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The URBACT II Programme Manual (so called Technical Working Document) was officially approved by Member and Partner states on 21 November 2007.
It provides details on the implementation, functioning and management of the different URBACT II operations: exchange and learning (thematic networks, working groups, etc.), capitalisation (thematic poles, expertise, etc.) and communication/ dissemination.
Those interested in applying for the creation of a project under URBACT II will find all the necessary information to prepare their application.
Moreover, a FAQ section will be made available on the URBACT web site.
Click here for more information and to download the technical document
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European Commission Consultation on Cohesion Policy
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The European Commission has made available the contributions to the public consultation on the future of EU cohesion policy.
This consultation was launched by Commissioner Danuta Hübner on 27 September 2007 during the "Fourth European Forum on Cohesion". It aims to collect ideas and contributions on the question of how the Union's cohesion policy should adapt to new challenges and how its delivery can be improved in order to maximise its impact in the future.
The consultation is open until 31 January 2008. Contributions are expected from Member States, regions, cities, EU institutions, economic and social partners, civil society organisations, academics and citizens. They should be based on a number of questions which were published in the European Commission's Fourth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion.
A report on this consultation will be presented in spring 2008, together with the Fifth Progress Report on Economic and Social Cohesion.
Click here for more information
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Regions for Economic Change - Conference, 25/26 February, Brussels
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On 25 and 26 February 2008, the European Commission will hold the second annual conference of the 'Regions for economic change' initiative under the title "Regions For Economic Change – Sharing Excellence".
The event will be organised by the Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General and other Commission services in cooperation with the Committee of the Regions. During the evening of the first day, Commissioner Danuta Hübner will present the 2008 'RegioStars' awards to projects displaying good European practice and innovation in regional policy.
9 workshops will be organised to showcase and promote discussion on European strategies, experiences and projects intended to provide learning and networking opportunities for Structural Funds managing authorities.
Visit the DG REGIO web site for more information
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2 ePractice.eu workshops - 3 and 6 of March 2008
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Two ePractice.eu workshops are being held in March.
The first, eGovernment Mobile Services, will be held in Barcelona on the 3rd of March 2008.
The objective of this workshop is to learn from successful experiences in designing, developing and deploying innovative eGovernment services for municipalities based on mobile phones. A number of relevant cases, all of them based on real experiences in the design and setting-up of services, will be presented to the participants and will be the basis for the discussion and exchange of experiences.
The second, Municipal eGovernment, will be held in Brussels on the 6th of March 2008.
As the first line of administration and government, councils must serve the purpose of easing the experience of the citizens with e-services, helping them to take their first steps into the world of electronic transactions, building trust in such systems and enhancing their confidence. This notion of Municipal eGovernment as a comforting gateway to the larger world of e-transactions will be explored in-depth in this new ePractice.eu free workshop, where you will have the opportunity to meet and exchange knowledge with other high level eGovernment practitioners.
Attendance at both workshops is free of charge. Seats are limited and filled in a first-come, first-served basis, so you are encouraged to register in advance.
Click here for more information and to register for the eGovernment Mobile Services workshop
Click here for more information and to register for the Municipal eGovernment workshop
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International Conference - Knowledge Society: New socio-economic paradigms for the European region and cities, Formia (IT)
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The Conference Knowledge Society: New socio-economic paradigms for the European region and cities will be held at the CONI Conference Centre of Formia (Italy) on the 7th of March 2008 at 8h30.
The Conference is part of a wider strategy which aims to make Formia an Italian and European capital of the Knowledge Society.
Conference speakers include: Ernesto Aucci, Director of Institutional Relations FIAT group, Vittorio Prodi, Member of the European Parliament, Paul Ginsborg, University of Florence and many more.
For further information contact Mr. Luigi Petito: 0032 486 619 818
or visit the conference web site
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