Clusters and business networks - Bologna (30 June - 1 July 2003)

Regional innovation benchmarking and foresight - Larissa (12 - 13 February 2003)

Services and support to start-up and spin-off - Coventry and Birmingham (9 - 11 June 2004)

Industry – Science Relations (17th – 18th March 2005 - Caen – Basse Normandie – France)

Industry – Science Relations (10th May 2007 - Brussels; Belgium)

Support for Start Ups and Spin-Offs (10th May 2007 - Brussels; Belgium)

Clusters and Business Networks (10th May 2007 - Brussels; Belgium)

Innovation Finance (10th May 2007 - Brussels; Belgium)
Services and support to start-up and spin-off - Coventry and Birmingham (9 - 11 June 2004)

ERIK WORKSHOP & STUDY TOUR
"Creating and Connecting Companies. A West Midlands Perspective"

An innovative 3 day, multi-centre event for local practitioners and partners from other EU member states, based around the ERIK Network’s thematic areas of Spin Outs/Start Ups and Clusters/Business Networks, designed to deliver maximum learning to those interested in current EU Good Practice in all these themes.

1st day – Wednesday June 9
Coventry University Technology Park, Coventry, West Midlands

Introductions
Chairperson: Alex Hicks – Business Advisor - The EPI Centre
WELCOME
Mr Dr Michael Goldstein CBE,, Vice Chancellor Coventry University
The West Midlands geography, history and the enterprise and innovation landscape
Mr Dave Allport, Team Leader Contracts & Projects Team, Advantage West Midlands
Innovative Actions & the Innovative Actions Networks
Ms Benedicte Mouton, Head of Sector for Technological Innovation, European Commission, DG Regional Policy
FIRST SESSION
Identifying the factors in successful cluster development
Mr Chris Ralph, Head of Economic Research & Sectoral Initiatives, ECOTEC
Finance for Spin Off Companies: new and old instruments
Professor Bart Claysse, University of Gent, Belgium
Parallel Working Sessions - Two 50 minute sessions
Session A Policies for high tech spin offs – a comparative assessment
Professor Fabrizio Cesaroni, University of Lecce
Session B An introduction to the West Midlands approach to Cluster development
Stuart Horsley Advantage West Midlands
SECOND SESSION
Study Visits
An opportunity to visit the University of Warwick Science Park and others in the local area or tour Coventry University Technology Park

2nd day – Thursday June 10
Advantage West Midlands Offices, Birmingham
Introductions
Chairperson: Mr Norman Price, Board Member, Advantage West Midlands
Ms Mary Harpley, Director of Enterprise & Innovation, Advantage West Midlands
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – the West Midlands
Ms Rebecca Harding, The Work Foundation/GEM
FIRST SESSION
An introduction to the Madrid innovation system, including insights into a virtual incubator for new technology start ups
Mr Eduardo Diaz Madrid
Making Business Networks Work
Mr Ken Wigfield, Consultant and Chair of the Wyre Forest Business Club
Innovation in Business Networking - An interactive experience
Mr John Rainford Innovation Director Strawberry Fields
Parallel Working Sessions
Session C The Vision Works – A discussion of the Model
Dr Clive Winters, Coventry University
Session D Creating Creation Companies – Facilitated session
Mr Barry Mapp, Innovation Consultant
SECOND SESSION
Study Visits
An opportunity to visit the Jewellery Innovation Centre or the Technology and
Innovation Centre in Birmingham

3rd day – Friday June 11
Coventry University Technology Park, Coventry, West Midlands

The ERIK Network
Mr Michal Miedzinski
FIRST SESSION
Chairperson: Massimo Bressan, ERIK Network
Start Ups and Spin Outs – a UK and West Midlands Perspective
Dr David Rowe, Warwick University Science Park
Strengthening a Region’s Innovation Profile – The story of 12 EU regions working together
Ms Irma Priedl
SECOND SESSION
The West Midlands Approach to Partnership Working
Mr John Finney, European Projects Co-ordinator, AWM
The West Midlands Innovative Actions Programme
Mr John Cornbill the Innovation School
Connecting to the Regional Innovation Strategy
Hilary Chilton Head of Innovation and Higher Education Policy Advantage West Midlands
Closing Presentations
John Latham Coventry University Enterprises
Conference Closes
ERIK Clusters and Business Networks and Start Ups and Spin Outs Thematic Working Group Meetings