IRE Articles

The Innovating Regions in Europe want to create a policy consulting community of practice in the field of regional innovation policy based on the involvement of regional governmental practitioners and their partners.

A new report from a management consulting firm shows that companies are increasingly beginning to question the amount of money they are spending on innovation. Possibly the main factor behind this disillusionment is that often costly innovation processes are not translating into improved profits.

From its humble beginnings with the first four regions, the Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) has grown to become a large and influential network of 235 regions from 32 countries connected by a mutual interest in enhancing their innovation performance. The new publication on the IRE Network results takes a look back at the evolution of the network and provides a unique overview of its activities and the experience gathered over the years.

INNET “Innovation express” trans-European call for proposals for technology clusters and SMEs is open until the end of the year.

Northern Ireland's new RIS Action Plan for 2008-11 is focussed on stimulating and supporting innovation in the NI economy.

A lack of interaction between universities, research institutes and businesses has long hampered innovation and growth in European SMEs. But many regions have now taken measures to develop technology clusters and knowledge transfer schemes that bring together scientists, companies and research institutes in a fruitful exchange of experience and know-how.

Powerful initiatives across the EU are striving to boost regional enterprise through the transfer of knowledge. Two particularly successful approaches demonstrate the benefits of letting the business sector take the lead in this respect, encouraging SMEs to co-opt the expertise they need to address knowledge gaps and explore the potential to increase their productivity and competitiveness in the global market.