Regions and the Innovation Union

Background:

"Europe' s future economic growth and jobs will increasingly have to come from innovation in products, services and business models," says the European Commission. It has therefore launched the ambitious project of the Innovation Union. The Innovation Union contains over thirty action points proposals like the European Innovation Partnerships. At its meeting of 9 and 10 March the EU Competitiveness Council endorsed the work undertaken so far in preparing the pilot European Innovation Partnership on active and healthy ageing.

Key questions:

Will the new initiative achieve its ambitious goal? Will the innovation partnerships be a relevant tool to deliver the objectives? What can we learn from the first pilot Innovation Partnership?

How will the Innovation Union deliver on the Europe 2020 goals? What is the latest on the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing? Why is it relevant to the regions? How can regions get involved?

Speakers:

• Peter Wintlev-Jensen, Deputy Head, Unit ICT for Inclusion - DG INFSO
• Tonnie De Koster, DG Research and Innovation, Unit C.1: Innovation Policy
• Björn Westling, Västra Götaland (SE), Manager, Product Value Development, Swerea IVF, winner of the AER Regional Innovation Award in 2009

FURTHER INFORMATION ON AER ACTIVITIES 2011:

Please follow this LINK to get further information on AER's Whiteboook on Cohesion Policy

And find here the poitical priorities of the AER for 2011: