This interest for innovation and technology transfer is based on the importance of innovation to maintain employment, competitiviness, and the living standards of a region. As the Green Paper on Innovation points-out, over the last ten years, Europe has devoted most of its efforts to increases in productivity. However, these increases can be negated if they are used in conjunction with a technology which is obsolete or obsolescent. Innovation must be the driving force behind the entire business policy, both downstream and upstream of the actual production of goods and services. European firms and governments must therefore redeploy their efforts, improve their capability to translate into commercial successes and better fund intangible investments which are a deciding factor for the future of competitiveness, growth and employment
For the real convergence and cohesion of European Regions, innovation is a new challenge. To bridge the development gap, the less favoured regions (belonging to Objective 1 and Objective 2) must intensify their efforts in technological development and the creation of new knowledge, and enrich their production with capabilities found in universities and research centres. For these regions, the challenge is not to imitate what most advanced regions have achieved, but to be prepared and to integrate creatively in an economy of global dimensions.
The Central Macedonia Regional Technology Plan constitutes part of a new European Commission policy which enhances the synergy between Research and Technological Development Policy and Economic and Social Cohesion Policy. This policy was introduced through pilot applications of Regional Technology Plans in 4 Northern European (Limburg, Wales, Leipzig, Lorraine) and 4 Southern European (Central Macedonia, Abruzzo, Castile y Leon, Norte) Regions. The Plan of Central Macedonia is one of the first to be completed, it has solved a series of organisational and methodological problems, which may be useful in the actual extension of this policy to a number of other European Regions.
Table 1 shows that the design and implementation of a regional innovation strategy in Central Macedonia was developed in 5 stages. The text which follows is structured in 5 parts, corresponding to these stages and their internal sections. It tries to bring to the surface the logical steps, the organisational models, and the results of the empirical research which permitted the elaboration and formulation of the regional innovation strategy.
Table 1: Global structure of the Central Macedonia RTP
I. SETTING-UP THE PROGRAMME
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- Productive system and competitiveness in C. Macedonia
- Application of horizontal technologies in the region
- Analysis of regional technology demand
- Analysis of regional technology supply
- Analysis of regional technology transfer
III. ELABORATION OF REGIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGY
- Strategic orientations and priorities
- Investigation on projects
- Technology demand and selection of projects
IV. THE ACTION PLAN
- RTP strategy
- RTP projects
V. RTP IMPLEMENTATION
- Implementation framework
- Feasibility studies and projects implementation
- Monitoring and evaluation: the RTP Observatory
- RTP strategy
- RTP projects
V. RTP IMPLEMENTATION
- Implementation framework
- Feasibility studies and projects implementation
- Monitoring and evaluation: the RTP Observatory
Part one, Setting-up the Programme, describes the methodological, institutional and organisational constitution of the Central Macedonia RTP. It begins by establishing the working premises: explaining what an RTP is, and formulating the objectives of the Central Macedonia RTP; and continues by presenting the constitution of the Steering Committee and the Management Unit, the deliverables, and the various work packages to be elaborated in order to establish a strategy for technological development in Central Macedonia.
The second part deals with The Regional Innovation System and includes the analysis of the regional productive system and a multi-layer analysis of the technology demand and supply in Central Macedonia. The analysis of demand begins with technology audits and is completed by expert reports and strategic meetings with local enterprises. Also used were audits from recent research programmes and industrial studies. The description of the technology supply covered a very large number of technology sectors and includes both the supply offered by R&D institutions (universities, technical colleges, institutes, etc.) as well as interfirm technology transfer associated with sub-contracting, co-production, technology purchases, and foreign investment.
The third part, Elaboration of Regional Innovation Strategy, deals with the formulation of a strategy supporting the innovation capacity in Central Macedonia. It exploits the conclusions of the analytical approaches in order to identify and formulate problems and deficiencies, and to define an intervention on the level of the regional innovation system. Here, we attempt a double synthesis: from the analytical data to the definition of strategic priorities, and from the proposals and expectations of various regional institutions ands firms to the definition of actions and projects. In parallel, we attempt to evaluate the demand for the technology services which the projects will provide.
The purpose of the fourth part, the Action Plan, is to codify the conclusions drawn from the elaborations on the strategy designed to support the innovation capacity of Central Macedonia's businesses. The Action Plan does not aim to support only a selected few of the region's industries. On the contrary, it attempts to create an innovation-friendly environment which will contribute to the development of new products, the renewal of production technologies and the promotion of these products on international markets. It aims at the development of a regional innovation support system open to all the businesses in the region.
The fifth part, Implementation, examines the ways the regional innovation strategy can be interwoven with the 2nd Community Support Framework and some relevant Community Initiatives, that constitute principal financial sources for the RTP implementation. The RTP projects included into this framework, are based upon appropriate feasibility studies, which could not be presented in this report. Finally, there is a presentation of the Observatory, which is a system for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the RTP and dissemination of information concerning innovation and development in Central Macedonia.
The preparation of the Regional Technology Plan in Central Macedonia was a collective effort. It lasted for two years and a great number of scientists, public officials and businessmen participated in this preparation. The analytical reports have been prepared by the following persons and working groups:
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L. Lambrianidis, S. Karidis, B. Monastiriotis (1995), Analysis of the Regional Productive System of Central Macedonia, in
co-operation with A. Alexandridis, G. Kafkalas, K. Pagarliotas, M. Vlachogiannis.
- E. Thoidou (1995), Central Macedonia in Figures, in co-operation with D. Foutakis.
- T. Pelagidis (1995), Research and Studies on the Industry in Northern Greece.
- G. Kafkalas, D. Foutakis (1995), The Geography of Innovation in Greece.
- L. Tsoulouvis (1995), Analysis of Best Practices and Schemes of Technological Development in the European Union, in co-operation with D. Deniozos, K. Bakouros, Ch. Besta, N. Komninos.
- N. Zacharis (1995), Horizontal Technologies in C. Macedonia, in co-operation with G. Argyriadis and N. Komninos.
- Katsadas, G. Pagalos (1995), Industrial Information and Communication Technologies in C. Macedonia.
- Ch. Kouroumlis, Â. Petridis (1995), Industrial Automation Systems in C. Macedonia.
- N. Adritsos, Í. Koniordos (1995), Energy and Environment in C. Macedonia.
- Eftimiadou, Å. Kokini (1995), Quality and Certification in C. Macedonia.
- Â. Kelesidis (1996), Analysis of the Demand for Technological Services in Central Macedonia.
- G. Paschalidis (1996), The Productive System of the Prefecture of Serres.
- P. Albanidis (1996), The Productive System of the Prefecture of Pieria.
- S. Gogos (1996), The Productive System of the Prefecture of Chalkidiki.
- Ch. Karypidou, M. Kalogeridou (1996), The Productive System of the Prefecture of Kilkis.
- P. Dragolas, K. Kazatzidis, S. Mioglou, Â. Tsiliopoulos, A. Chatzisavas (1996), The Productive System of the Prefecture of Imathia.
- Å. Sefertzi, Ch. Skiadas, (1996), Technological Supply in C. Macedonia, in co-operation with É. Dimotikalis, Ô. Zalika, Ì. Zacharioudakis, É. Mamanou, Ï. Bertsoulaki, Â. Chrisos.
- Ì. Zouboulaki, Í. Komninos, P. Tarani (1996), Inter-firm Co-operation and Technology Transfer in C. Macedonia.
- Manos (1996), Organisations for Innovation Support in Northern Greece.
- Å. Andrikopoulou, Â. Tobrou (1995), Cohesion of RTP with the Regional and Sectoral Programmes of the 2nd CSF 1994-99, in co-operation with P. Georgopoulos, É. Tsaras, É. Stavrou, S. Tsiakiris.
- Th. Chatzipantelis, N. Komninos, P. Kyrgiafini, P. Tarani (1996), Research on the Demand for Technology and Innovation Services in C. Macedonia
- KEPA (1996), Funding Businesses for Technological Modernisation, Feasibility Study.
- KEPA (1996), Funding Businesses for Research and Technological Development, Feasibility Study.
- St. Tsiakiris (1996), Foreign Direct Investment and International Technology Co-operation, Feasibility Study.
- P. Kyrgiafini (1996), Networking in the Food Industry, Feasibility Study.
- Macedonian Labour Institute (1996), Employee Technology Training, Feasibility Study.
- G. Kafklalas, B. Tobrou (1996), Training in Innovation Management, Feasibility Study.
- B. Kelesidis (1996), Technology Transfer Department at the Thessaloniki Technology Park, Feasibility Study, in co-operation with N. Komninos and I. Stavrou.
- A.U.Th. Research Committee (1996), Centre for Research Dissemination of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Feasibility Study.
- I. Goutziouli (1996), Textiles Institute of Northern Greece, Feasibility Study.
- P. Tarani (1996), Food Company of Northern Greece, Feasibility Study.
- Business Innovation Centre of Serres (1996), Local Centres and Network for Technology Services, Feasibility Study.
- H. Katsikas, L. Lambrianidis (1996), Centre for Industrial and Developmental Studies of Northern Greece, Feasibility Study.
- É. Tsoukalas, G. Bleris, A. Pomportsis, Å. Tzekakis, É. Vlahavas, Å. Petridou (1996), Association for Industrial Information Technologies, Feasibility Study.
- Th. Chatzipantelis, N. Komninos (1996), Expansion of the RTP Observatory, Feasibility Study.
- Th. Chatzipantelis, I. Goutziouli, N. Komninos (1996), RTP Observatory Development.
- Management Unit (1996), RTP of C. Macedonia: Interim Report.
- Management Unit (1996), RTP of C. Macedonia: Action Plan.
