INNOVATION FINANCE THEMATIC WORKING GROUP A new TWG has been introduced in the ERIK+ Network Programme, namely Innovation Finance. The focus of the TWG is on financial structures and instruments created through and by the RPIA. The TWG has a horizontal perspective supporting the structures of the three other TWG's in the ERIK+ Network. Difficult access to finance is one of the most common barriers to innovation, due to the level of risk that public and private financial institutions run through granting loans to new and innovative companies. Regional policies can, however, play a key role in enhancing information and actual access to innovation funds. The process of introducing innovation to the market requires a chain of capital flow. In many aspects European support structures are too weak to do this and suffers from the many gaps which impede it from serving as a working flow of capital. However, this pattern is not uniform throughout Europe and, in particular, engagement from public supportive structures differs. Through the introduction of this new TWG, ERIK+ will concentrate on measures aiming at attracting more capital in the various stages of company development. Many regions have used different forms of their RPIA for innovation finance support, directly or in-directly. The TWG will form indicators for the ERIK+ Database to follow how RPIAs have become involved in regional innovation finance structures. The Innovation Finance TWG is led by the Regional Council in Kalmar County together with members of the Nuts II region Småland med öarna (Småland and islands). Current members of the group are Tuscany (Italy), Emilia-Romagna (Italy), Niederösterreich (Austria), South Holland (Netherlands), Aragon (Spain) and Alentejo (Portugal). Further information on the Innovation Finance TWG is available from: mats.rosen@kalmar.regionforbund.se     or Regional Council Kalmar County, Box 762, S-39127 Kalmar