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The Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) is a regional extension of the European Innovation Scoreboard, assessing the innovation performance of European regions on a limited number of indicators. The RIS 2017 covers 220 regions across 22 EU countries, Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland. In addition, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta are included at country level.
The new report of JRC “Innovation and Regional Specialisation in Latin America” analyses how smart specialisation is implemented in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The study also suggests collaboration between smart specialisation initiatives in these countries, which together represent a population of over 460 million inhabitants, with EU regions.
On February 7 2017, the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions announced their plan to work together in an initiative to create smarter EU cities and regions, with the overall goal of boosting investment and building a more sustainable Europe.
The Smart Regions conference took place in Brussels on 1-2 June 2016. This event marked the transition from the completion of RIS3 towards full implementation in regional and interregional programmes and investment projects. It gathered 636 representatives from regional authorities, research, business and European institutions.
With government grants disappearing and banks more reluctant to fund small businesses, local communities are seeking new ways to find investment. Crowdfunding isn’t the only way to get projects off the ground. There are other ways to encourage investment.
A Kauffman Foundation report highlights the impact of education on rates of business startups and growth in metropolitan areas, while disputing the impact of certain factors that previously have been touted for their influence.
The 2010 Finnish National Innovation Strategy contains an important section on demand and user-driven innovation. In addition to considering scientific and technological development as an important source of innovation, the strategy also takes into account the growing role of other knowledge-based innovations and the related demand and user-orientation in the broadening innovation activity in the society.