International Congress : Digital innovation for regional growth
HOW TO ACHIEVE SMART REGIONAL GROWTH THROUGH DIGITAL INNOVATION ?
This high-level event offers an opportunity to hear first-hand from the European Commission, the S3 Platform as
well as from Regional and Local stakeholders about the importance of innovation tools such as Innovation
Procurement and ICT Innovation Vouchers in the framework of Smart Specialization Strategies as means to boost
digital innovation in order to achieve regional growth. Information will be shared around the process involved in
drafting of the programmes, the use of Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 or other financing support to implement
innovation measures, lessons learned and outcomes achieved.
Innovation procurement holds an enormous — so far largely underexploited — potential to improve the quality
and efficiency of public services and create market opportunities for innovative firms. As public procurement takes
place predominantly at local and regional level, regions and cities play in the framework of the new Regional Policy
a significant role to drive innovation from the demand side in Europe. Innovation Procurement is thus a very useful
tool for these stakeholders to achieve the goals of the new Cohesion Policy and the Smart Specialization Strategies.
Another way to stimulate smart regional growth is the innovation vouchers. The uptake of ICT to develop
innovative business solutions for SMEs is a key driver for company growth can boost productivity and open up new
markets. ICT Innovation Vouchers is a tool that EU regions can implement to improve the competitiveness of
microenterprises and SMEs by stimulating the demand for a large range of innovative ICT-related services –notably
e-commerce including cross-border online sales – and development of new products, services and processes.
Regions, cities and other relevant local stakeholders like innovation agencies, universities, European Enterprise
Network, chambers of commerce as well as regional managing authorities will have the opportunity to learn more
about these innovation tools in the context of Smart Specialization Strategies, highlighting the synergies with
European Structural and Investment Funds and Horizon 2020. Participation from all over Europe is expected
ensuring a broad interaction and debate.
This high-level event offers an opportunity to hear first-hand from the European Commission, the S3 Platform as
well as from Regional and Local stakeholders about the importance of innovation tools such as Innovation
Procurement and ICT Innovation Vouchers in the framework of Smart Specialization Strategies as means to boost
digital innovation in order to achieve regional growth. Information will be shared around the process involved in
drafting of the programmes, the use of Structural Funds and Horizon 2020 or other financing support to implement
innovation measures, lessons learned and outcomes achieved.
Innovation procurement holds an enormous — so far largely underexploited — potential to improve the quality
and efficiency of public services and create market opportunities for innovative firms. As public procurement takes
place predominantly at local and regional level, regions and cities play in the framework of the new Regional Policy
a significant role to drive innovation from the demand side in Europe. Innovation Procurement is thus a very useful
tool for these stakeholders to achieve the goals of the new Cohesion Policy and the Smart Specialization Strategies.
Another way to stimulate smart regional growth is the innovation vouchers. The uptake of ICT to develop
innovative business solutions for SMEs is a key driver for company growth can boost productivity and open up new
markets. ICT Innovation Vouchers is a tool that EU regions can implement to improve the competitiveness of
microenterprises and SMEs by stimulating the demand for a large range of innovative ICT-related services –notably
e-commerce including cross-border online sales – and development of new products, services and processes.
Regions, cities and other relevant local stakeholders like innovation agencies, universities, European Enterprise
Network, chambers of commerce as well as regional managing authorities will have the opportunity to learn more
about these innovation tools in the context of Smart Specialization Strategies, highlighting the synergies with
European Structural and Investment Funds and Horizon 2020. Participation from all over Europe is expected
ensuring a broad interaction and debate.