The Macro-Regional Innovation Week intends to focus on the exchange of best practices and knowledge among local and international policy and decision makers, academics, financial actors and various types of innovation and technology transfer practitioners. The week is intended to facilitate the exchange of views and knowledge among this plethora of stakeholders with a focus on supporting the development of a competitive innovation ecosystem across the macro-regions. These days of seminars and workshops will target contiguous regions that are relevant because of significant historical and economic ties and because of their inclusion in overlapping macro-regional strategies (e.g. Danube Strategy, Adriatic-Ionian Strategy or Alpine Region strategy).

The Macro-Regional Innovation Week will look at different levels of governance and activity including the political, regional and local level.
The week will open with an initial consideration of the political imperatives that need to be attained to support the expansion of a robust innovation and technology commercialisation ecosystem. It will then move on to consider how framework conditions supporting innovation and technology commercialisation can be created at a regional level by applying robust Smart Specialisation Strategies. The role of Science and Technology parks, how best to structure their operation and their interaction with local stakeholders (research infrastructures, local authorities, universities, investors, etc.) will be the focus of a dedicated portion of the forum. The second part of the forum will be focused on trying to address the human capital component of innovation eco-systems through targeted training aimed at addressing a recognised skills gap in the domains of Technology Transfer, Intellectual Property management and marketing and the commercialisation of research results more in general.

Places for this programme are limited and the participation is free of charge. The targeted training is intended for technology transfer and intellectual property (IP) commercialisation professionals from universities, research centres or investors. Professionals from the Danube region and the Western Balkan countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) will be given a priority. Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate experience in the areas of IP management and commercialisation.

How to apply:

Should you want to apply to participate in the training for Part 1 and / or Part 2 or at an individual session of the Innovation Week, please send your detailed CV and a short expression of motivation by 21 August 2016 to JRC-TT-MacroRegions@ec.europa.eu using the reference "Macro-Regional Innovation Week" in the subject line. The applications will be reviewed by the evaluation committee composed by representatives from the Joint Research Centre and the various session organisers, which will also take into account geographic and gender balance.
The results of the selection will be communicated latest by 2 September 2016. Every applicant will receive an e-mail specifying whether they have been selected or not and the successful applicants will also receive a personalised invitation.
All accepted applicants will be offered free access to the courses, training material, transfers Trieste from/to AREA Science Park and meals during the event. Support will also be offered for hotel booking. Upon successful completion of their courses participants will also receive a certificate of attendance.

Reimbursement of costs:

Nationals from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey may apply for waiving accommodation and travel costs. However, given budget restrictions, this will be granted to most qualified applicants, who will be notified with the acceptance letter.

Source: JRC