- 1 -
EU Local and Regional Authorities' Contribution
to the Mid-term Review of Europe 2020
Assessment of the Innovation Union flagship initiative
CDR5172-2013_10_00_TRA_INFO…/…
- 1 -
Three years after its launch, the Committee of the Regions will take stock of the Innovation Union flagship initiative at a conference to be held on 27 November 2013 in Brussels. This conference will be the seventh in a series of CoR events and monitoring initiatives surrounding the mid-term review of Europe 2020. More news on this conference can be found on the CoR website[1].
By participating in this survey, you will:
- ensure that your views are taken into account in the debate held during the conference;
- contribute to the CoR's consultative activity in this field over the coming months;
- provide input to the CoR's contribution to the mid-term review of Europe 2020.
If you wish to participate in this survey, please complete this questionnaire in any EU language, using the spaces provided, and return it in text format to:
by 27 September 2013
For more information on this survey
and for details on how to join the
Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, go to:
The questionnaire is available on this website
in all official EU languages.
You can find more information on Innovation Union, as seen from the local and regional authorities' viewpoint, in the Committee of the Regions' publication Delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy - A Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities[2]. General information on Europe 2020 may be found on the strategy's official website.[3].
CDR5172-2013_10_00_TRA_INFO…/…
- 1 -
Contributor information[4]
Name of sender: / Spiros PapaspyrouContact details:
(address, telephone, email) / N.E.O. Patron Athinon 32/Amerikis, Patras 26441
Tel. 2613613630
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / Western Greece Region
Type of organisation / City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province
Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / GREECE
Member of the EUROPE 2020 Monitoring Platform: / Yes No
Policy challenges and responses
at regional and local level
BOX 1Innovation Union as specified in the European Commission's Communication
The Innovation Union initiative[5] was adopted in 2010, as an integral part of Europe 2020[6]. The overall aim of this flagship initiative is to re-focus research and development (R&D) and innovation policy on the challenges facing our society, such as climate change, energy, health and demographic change. Innovation Union is a crucial investment in our future. For example, it is estimated that achieving the target of investing 3% of EU GDP on R&D by 2020 could create 3.7 million jobs and increase annual GDP by €795 billion by 2025. The flagship initiative contains the following aims:
1. In times of fiscal constraints, the EU and Member States need to continue to invest in education, R&D, innovation and ICTs.
2. EU and national research & innovation systems need to be better linked up with each other and their performance improved.
3. Our education systems at all levels need to be modernised. Excellence must become the guiding principle even more than before. Researchers and innovators must be able to work and cooperate across the EU as easily as within national borders. The European Research Area must be completed.
Access to EU programmes must be simplified and their leverage effect on private sector investment enhanced, since our research needs to result in more innovation. Cooperation between the worlds of science and business must be enhanced, obstacles removed and incentives put in place.
5. The remaining barriers for entrepreneurs to bring "ideas to market" must be removed: we must have better access to finance, particularly for SMEs, affordable intellectual property rights, smarter and more ambitious regulations and targets and a faster setting of interoperable standards.
6. European Innovation Partnerships should be launched.
7. Strengths in design and creativity must be better exploited.
8. Social innovation must be championed and a better understanding of public sector innovation developed, identifying and giving visibility to successful initiatives.
9. Better work with our international partners is needed. That also means adopting a common EU front where needed in international (trade) negotiations.
TheInnovation Union flagship initiative has evolved since its launch in 2010. New building blocks, such as the Smart Specialisation Platform and five European Innovation Partnerships have already been launched (the EIPs on: Active and Healthy Ageing; Agricultural Sustainability and Productivity; Smart Cities and Communities; Water; and Raw Materials). All these elements as well as news of events are publicly available on or through the EU Commission's dedicated Innovation Union website.
1)What type of policy programmes/actions are being implemented in your city/region to support the policy goals of the Innovation Union (see Box 1)?
1.1 Investing in R&D, innovation and ICT (own resources, public-private partnerships, other sources…) / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
This is something that was stressed at a very high level when preparing for the new programming period under the smart specialisation strategy, and it will be a priority.
1.2 Providing support to potential beneficiaries to access EU funds and participate in EU initiatives in the field of research and innovation / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
Support is provided to potential beneficiaries to ensure their access to EU funding. There is scope for achieving more participation in EU initiatives relating to research and innovation, and we are trying to do this by drawing on resources from the research programmes (e.g. FP7) and other EU programmes.
1.3 Encouraging the use of the results of research projects in innovative products and services / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
This is something that has become part of efforts during the current programming period and which will be stepped up during the next period. But there is a much broader issue here –concerning public administration - and for this effort to succeed the authority must enjoy a degree of administrative autonomy or the national government must take the initiative to provide support.
1.4 Removing barriers to innovation, such as expensive intellectual property rights and limited access to finance / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
The major problem is the general economic situation, which precludes such initiatives, as well as limited access to financing from the banking system.
1.5 Participating in one of the European Innovation Partnerships / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
If so, which one?
- Smart specialisation strategy (RIS3)
- Regional Innovation Monitor Plus
1.6 Stimulating social innovation / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
To a limited extent through partnerships. More funding is needed, as well as policies that are more geared to the local level, since until now ESF funding has been managed by the national ministry, which also decided on priorities and focused on horizontal policies.
1.7 Cooperation with international partners in the field of research and innovation / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
Cooperation takes place on the same basis as described in point 1.2 above. Management of purely EU programmes (i.e. not co-financedthrough the Structural Funds) is particularly difficult for public authorities in Greece and this is the main hurdle that has to be negotiated.
1.8 Encouraging innovation in the public sector[7] / Policy programmes/actions contributing to this aim?
Yes No Don't know
Brief description:
Such action is limited; the current institutional framework of public administration is not conducive to innovation.
2)One of the main aims of the Europe 2020 Strategy is to increase investments in R&D to 3% of EU GDP. This target is underpinned by several actions under Innovation Union. The latest Innovation Union Scoreboard[8] of the European Commission, a progress monitoring tool, shows that there are big differences in the progress made towards this target across the EU. Which of the following challenges would you consider as the most urgent to address?
Multiple answers possible
Under-investment in the existing knowledge base (infrastructure, public research centres etc.);
Poor access to finance for innovative start-ups;
High costs of intellectual property rights (IPRs);
Ineffective use of the innovation possibilities offered by public procurement;
Fragmentation and costly duplication of projects and programmes;
No strategic approach to innovation at national level;
No real cooperation between research and industry, limited scale of bringing ideas to market;
So-called "brain-drain" (best talents leaving Europe for opportunities elsewhere);
Other (please specify)
Innovation must form an integral part of public authorities' processes. Authorities manage innovation issues, but government is also an end-user of innovation. The first step is to bring about a change in mind-set so that innovation is equated with creativity and its adoption and production encouraged in practice. At the moment, innovation is unknown territory for public authorities, concerning only research centres and other bodies which are interested in innovation as part of a helix (triple or quadruple) which is unconnected.
BOX 2
Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe
The Communication of the European Commission entitled "Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020[9]" [COM(2010) 553] sets out the role of regional policy in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy[10] in the area of smart growth and in particular the flagship initiative Innovation Union.[11]. The Communication calls on national and regional governments to develop smart specialisation strategies to maximise the impact of regional policy in combination with other EU policies. As a follow-up, in June 2011 the European Commission launched an online platform with a set of tools which can be used to optimise the development of local and regional smart strategies. The Smart Specialisation Platform (SPP) provides users with practical guidelines such as the latest news and events, as well as many other features. In the Communication document, the European Commission provides a non-exhaustive list of ideas which regions could use to design their strategies:
1. Innovation clusters for regional growth
Clusters provide a favourable environment for fostering competitiveness and driving innovation. Support for their development needs to be concentrated on areas of comparative advantage.
2. Innovation-friendly business environments for SMEs
Regional and national authorities should support innovation-friendly business environments to assist SMEs, R&D-intensive ones especially, and the creation of new firms.
3. Lifelong learning in research and innovation
Focusing school, vocational and higher education curricula on cross-sector skills such as creativity and entrepreneurship will help young people to develop their full potential for innovation.
4. Attractive regional research infrastructure and centres of competence
National and regional authorities should consider, in particular, how EU regional policy can contribute to the 2015 objective of the Innovation Union flagship of completing or initiating 60% of the research infrastructure currently identified by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)[12].
5. Creativity and cultural industries
Cultural and creative industries, which flourish at local and regional level, are in a strategic position to link creativity and innovation[13]. They should be integrated into regional development strategies.6. Digital Agenda
With regard to the significance of ICT for the innovation system, Member States should consider how to better use the ERDF to accelerate achievement of the EU 2020 objectives for broadband access.
7. Public procurement
Innovative public procurement means the public sector taking on the role and risks of a lead customer, while improving the quality of its services and productivity.
3)In line with the Innovation Union flagship initiative and the additional Communication on "Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020" (see Box 2), local and regional authorities are encouraged to build smart specialisation strategies, as a condition for having access to EU Structural Funds available for investments in research and innovation. Does your region/city have a smart specialisation strategy?
Yes No Don't know
If you answered "yes" please describe briefly its main elements and the opportunities you have identified in your smart specialisation strategy, corresponding to the list in Box 2.
All the above factors have been taken into account in the smart specialisation plan which is being drawn up. Options still have to be specified by the national government, which will give details of available resources and the extent to which a regional strategy is possible. The splitting of opportunities for implementing the strategy between the national government and the region is a major hindrance to effective programming and implementation.
If you answered "no" please let us know whether your region/city was asked by your national government to initiate a smart specialisation strategy.
Yes No Don't know
4)Innovation Union and the concept of smart specialisation encourage a better integration of cultural and creative industries in the overall economic development. Although they have a high innovation potential, they are not always included in strategies or projects. Are cultural and creative industries included in the economic development strategy and/or in the smart specialisation strategy of your city/region?
Yes No Don't know
If you answered "yes" please describe how.
The region is implementing the transnational INTERREG IVC programme precisely for the culture and creative industries. It has incorporated the programme into the smart specialisation strategy and there has been discussion about the development of the culture and creative industry. However, it will take time and a change in the economic climate for this aspect of innovation to develop further.
How is the Innovation Union
relevant to your city or region?
5)The Innovation Union contains 34 actions, which are listed with a detailed description on a dedicated platform:Innovation Union Information and Intelligence system (I3S)[14]. All actions are grouped under 12 thematic headings and an additional one on monitoring progress[15]. In your opinion and from a regional perspective, please state in which of these chapters has the EU made the most significant progress, which ones have good prospects and in which ones has the EU not done enough.Significant progress / Some progress
and good prospects / No visible progress,
more effort needed
Promoting excellence in education and skills development
Delivering measures for the European Research Area to be completed by 2014
Focusing EU funding instruments on Innovation Union priorities
Promoting the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) as a model of innovation governance in Europe
Enhancing access to finance for innovative companies
Creating a single innovation market
Promoting openness and capitalising on Europe's creative potential
Spreading the benefits of innovation across the Union
Increasing social benefits
Pooling forces to achieve breakthroughs: European Innovation Partnerships
Leveraging our policies externally
Reforming research and innovation systems
Additional comments:
The analysis is realistic. Since the smart specialisation strategy has been adapted for the new programming period, prospects are good in all areas. It will take time, however, for the culture to change and for this to be assimilated.
6)Overall, what are the strong and weak points of the Innovation Union flagship initiative, as seen from your regional/local standpoint?
We cannot talk about the strong points of the Innovation Union flagship initiative from the regional standpoint at this stage because it still has to be implemented. The strong points at which the region is aiming, taking its sphere of operation into account, are:
- enhancing access to finance for innovative companies;
- promoting openness and capitalising on Europe's creative potential;
- pooling forces to achieve breakthroughs: European Innovation Partnerships;
- reforming research and innovation systems;
- leveraging EU policies externally.
7)Would you recommend any specific changes to the Innovation Union flagship initiative, during the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy in 2014?
Please explain
All measures must potentially have an impact on the operations and effectiveness of regional services, and not just on services administered by EU programmes. This requires continuous communication, active involvement and commitment on behalf of citizens. An operational plan is needed that establishes the principles and objectives of the Innovation Union for intermediate beneficiariesand which incorporates targeting. This approach is dual in nature because it allows grassroots feedback.
Are your country's policies relevant
to your city or region?
8)Does your country's 2013 (current) National Reform Programme (NRP)[16]for Europe 2020 adequately respond to your regional/local needs in the policy areas covered by the Innovation Union flagship initiative (e.g. investments in R&D, bringing ideas to market, smart specialisation)?Yes No Don't know
Please explain
The broader economic climate, which is also affecting regional government, makes it difficult for the authority's policies covered by the Innovation Union flagship initiative to really be consolidated. In this climate there is a risk that the objectives set will be watered down or devalued.
9) Would you suggest any changes in your country's National Reform Programme for 2014 in the area of innovation?
Yes No Don't know
Please explain
Changes are proposed under point 7 above with regard to incorporating EU goals into operations and the effectiveness of regional services with concomitant funding or other form of support,with the principal aim of changing the operating culture.
Policy and funding issues
10)Which of the sources of funding listed below are used to finance your actions under the Innovation Union flagship initiative? Are any other policy/financial instruments involved?Multiple answers possible
FP7 (The Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development)
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP, 2007-2013):
► Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP)
► Intelligent Energy-Europe Programme
European Regional Development Fund
The Lifelong Learning Programme
Others? Please specify: ......
11)Are any of the actions you have undertaken to implement the Innovation Union flagship initiative (as stated in your answers to questions 1 and 2) carried out in partnership with different tiers of government? If so, please state (a) which administrative levels are involved and (b) which practical arrangements are taken to manage these actions jointly.
a) Research centres, the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, ministries, municipalities, development partnerships and business players are involved.
b) The above collaborate in strategyframing, while they may also be the ultimate beneficiaries. The main challenges faced are:
- establishing ongoing dialogue and feedback between the region and higher levels of government;
- having the opportunity to frame an independent regional strategy that is discrete and targeted in its design. This would require adoption of acomprehensive multisectoralapproach to planning that is not limited to horizontal policies and options.
12)The policy goals under Innovation Union require an integrated, multi-sector approach. They can be achieved only if relevant stakeholders are also involved. Do you have a strategy for involving these various actors, such as the different research institutions, innovation centres, hi-tech companies (especially SMEs) and members of the public? If so, what kind of involvement have you pursued (e.g. information campaigns, dedicated events, PPPs)?
Please explain
Yes, we have a strategy, as outlined above. The challenge is to establish ongoing dialogue and feedback between the region and higher levels of government. Up until now, involvement has taken the form of specific information events, both general and targeted, and setting up of focus groups.
13)Please add any further comments you wish to make on the issues covered in this questionnaire.
All efforts under this particular initiative must feed through to grassroots much more, and there must be more focus on issues of governance and on involving business stakeholders.
SHARE YOUR GOOD PRACTICE
As part of the preparations for the CoR conference to be held on 27 November 2013 and to showcase good practices in areas covered by the Innovation Union flagship initiative (e.g. smart specialisation strategies, hi-tech clusters, bringing ideas to market, innovation in public administration), you are invited to submit examples of good practice from your local area.
/ JOIN THE EUROPE 2020 MONITORING PLATFORM
To help convey the voice of EU cities and regions in the implementation of Europe 2020 at EU level and in your country, join us. For more information, visit:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!