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European
Regions Research and
Innovation Network in
Brussels -
ERRIN
Introduction
The
project to establish the
European Regions
Research and Innovation
Network in Brussels
(ERRIN) began in April
2004. Funded by the EU
as a Regions of
Knowledge Pilot Action,
the ERRIN partnership
that includes Scotland
Europa has put in place
a Secretariat to
implement ERRIN
activities over the next
two years.
ERRIN
will capitalize on
research and innovation
contacts with over one
150 regions via their
representations in
Brussels.The ERRIN work
programme builds on
synergies between key
regional priorities and
EU-level initiatives
such as EU Research
Framework Programme
(FP6/7) funding for
collaborative R&D,
regional innovation, and
increased private-sector
R&D
investment.
ERRIN
enables regions jointly
to provide networking,
EU project development
and policy input
opportunities through
meetings for
experts/practitioners in
Brussels. ERRIN uses its
Brussels base as a
crossroads where
regional research and
innovation players can
meet with each other and
EU policy-makers. It
creates forums and
platforms for these
connections by:
- providing
a central information
point at
www.errin-brussels.org
- creating
working groups of
regional
representatives on
issues of common
sectoral or strategic
interest
For
details on past and
forthcoming ERRIN
meetings and
initiatives, please
visit www.errin-brussels.org.
Please contact
Paul
Harris
for any further
information.
A
brochure (pdf) on ERRIN
can be downloaded
here.
Scotland
Europa and
ERRIN
As
one of the eight members
of the ERRIN Management
Board, Scotland Europa
contributes to the
direction of the
network. Scotland Europa
also participates in
several initiatives
organised by the ERRIN
working groups
on:
- Biotechnology
- Information
Society
Technologies
- Urban
Research
- Environmental
Technologies
- EU
action for regional
innovation
Outcomes
of this work to date are
listed below. Related
documents are available
at www.errin-brussels.org.
- 8
September 2004:
Scotland Europa
hosted the first
ERRIN Policy and
Thematic Seminar to
respond to the
request of the
European Commission
for the experience
and views of regional
innovation
practitioners on
future funding
opportunities. 130
people registered,
more than 10
practitioners from 11
European regions
participated, and the
three European
Commission DG's
dealing with Research
(DG REGIO, DG
RESEARCH and DG
ENTERPRISE) were
present.
Feedback
from Kurt Vander
Eecken, European
Commission DG
Regional Policy,
Innovative Actions
Unit: "Thank you for
a very interesting,
well-organised
seminar. Seldom have
I seen so many
presentations
squeezed into a
one-day event without
getting the feeling
of drowning. It was
probably both due to
the selection of
speakers and a clever
balance under
headings covering
different aspects. I
heard some surprising
points of view and
met a number of
useful new contacts
which I hope to
exploit further in my
present
assignment."
- 16
March 2005: The
European Regions
Research and
Innovation Network in
Brussels (ERRIN)
organised its first
annual event. EU
Research Commissioner
Janez Potocnik, MEP
Britta Thomsen, and
the Secretary General
of the EU Committee
of the Regions
Gerhard Stahl joined
other noted speakers
to deliver their
vision on the role of
regions in the
European Research
Area. Margaret
McGarry spoke on
behalf of Scottish
Enterprise on the
theme 'Collaborate to
Compete'.
Event
presentations are
available on the
ERRIN
website
or contact
Paul
Harris.
- 27
April 2005:
Scotland Europa
hosted a European
Commission briefing
to ERRIN members on
the recently
published proposal
for an EU 2007-13
Competitiveness and
Innovation Prgramme
(CIP). Over 50
Brussels
representatives of
European regions
attended.
By
tabling the first
"Competitiveness and
Innovation framework
Programme (CIP)" the
Commission has
adopted a coherent
and integrated
response to the
objectives of the
renewed Lisbon
strategy. Running
from 2007 to 2013, it
proposes a budget of
more than EUR 4
billion over the
7-year
period.
The
proposal was adopted
6th April 2005. The
proposal will be
transmitted to the
Council, the European
Parliament, the
European Economic and
Social Committee and
the Committee of the
Regions.
The
CIP brings together
three specific
programmes:
Entrepreneurship and
Innovation programme,
ICT Policy Support
Programme,
Intelligent Energy
Programme.
Mr
William Neale,
official at DG
Enterprise Unit a1
General Coordination,
gave an overview of
the programme,
explaining structure
and functionalities.
For a report on the
meeting, please click
here.
 29
June
2005:
Scotland
Europa hosted an
ERRIN meeting
entitled 'What do the
EU Budget
negotiations mean for
FP& and the
Regions?'.
The
event was attended by
more than 100
participants and
followed the June EU
Summit at which no
Budget was agreed. It
featured a panel
debate with keynote
speakers such as
Jerzy Buzek MEP,
rapporteur for FP7,
Lambert Van
Nisterlooij MEP, Sir
Albert Bore, EU
Committee of the
Regions
representative, Ben
Turner from the UK
Permanent
Representation and
Kurt Vandenberghe,
Deputy Head of the EU
Research
Commissioner's
private
office.
Politicians
and regional
representatives laid
out their
expectations of the
UK Presidency in
terms of research.
All participants
agreed that
endorsement of the
'Luxembourg
Compromise' budgetary
package would have
been bad news for
research. The 40 per
cent cut under the
'Lisbon' section of
the budget would have
been 'very upsetting'
for Polish MEP Jerzy
Buzek and 'a
catastrophe' for Mr
Vandenberghe.
Scotland
Europa Members can
read a report of the
meeting in Issue XI
of Insight
Europe.
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