Research and innovation are vital for European competitiveness and citizens' well-being.The EU enlargement in 2004 boosted investment in R&I and enhanced reforms. Horizon Europe and cohesion funds play key roles, with significant allocations.Exploiting available R&I funding is crucial for regional prosperity.This session will showcase some local achievements with relevant EU financing, evaluate past Framework Programmes and discuss opportunities for improvements, as well as synergies for impact.
- Territorial | Local and regional | EU/ European | Cohesion | Research and Innovation
- Code: 08WS241549
- Albert Borschette Conference Centre, AB-3C
Speakers
Moderator
Practical information
- When
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Tue 08/10/2024, 14:30 - 15:30 CET
- Where
- Albert Borschette Conference Centre, AB-3C
- Type of partnership
- Partnership
- Format
- Workshop/ panel debate
- Theme
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Competitiveness and convergence: two sides of the same coin
- Languages
- English, Czech, German, French
Reporting
Session summary
Research and innovation (R&I) play a crucial role in driving the EU economy and enhancing the wellbeing of its citizens. The involvement of local and regional stakeholders is essential for the successful implementation of a number of initiatives.
The discussion on the impact of R&I investments, particularly through EU funding like cohesion funds and the EU R&I framework programmes, highlighted their importance in boosting the competitiveness of local and regional R&I ecosystems. Concrete examples from Budapest and South Moravia showcased how EU funding has been effectively utilized.
The evaluations of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe provide us with valuable insights and lessons that can inform future programmes. The focus on improving synergies among funds and better deploying resources is crucial for maximizing the benefits of these investments.
In more detail, the workshop discussed the impact of R&I investments, including through EU funding (namely cohesion funds and the EU framework programmes for R&I), in the competitiveness of local and regional R&I ecosystem. The discussion, moderated by Magda De Carli, deputy director in DG RTD, was timely as 2024 marks the 20th years anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement and the 40th anniversary of the EU research and innovation framework programmes. Ms Kata Tüttő, CoR member and former deputy Mayor of Budapest and Mr David Uhlíř, Innovation Ecosystem Architect & Chief Strategy Officer from South Moravian Innovation Centre in Czechia presented two concrete local examples on how EU funding were used to enhance the local R&I ecosystems. Panelist Ms Francesca Doria, Deputy Head of Unit for Common Programme Analysis & Regulatory Reform in DG RTD, gave an overview of the final evaluation of Horizon 2020 and the first takeaways of the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe. The panel debated also on the future of EU funds, particularly concerning the next Framework Programme for research and Innovation. The discussion among the panelists, with an active participation from the audience, focused on possible improvements in the next programming period and how to better exploit synergies among funds for the better deployment of the available resources.
Quotes
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When talking about innovation, we should also think of the social field and democracy. Although people engage less in politics in general, trust in local government remains. Hence we should encourage citizens, mostly the young, to participate in it more!
We need to carefully choose the objectives of the next R&I framework programme and resist to put forward too many of them, by doing so we avoid that they contradict each other. Support to competitiveness should be an overarching priority.
