Good practice Examples - RIS

1. Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS)

www.innovating-regions.org

Background and Context

RIS is fundamentally convinced that regional development can be carried out successfully if people from various walks of life, such as commerce, science, trade unions and administration, all have an input. Bringing in the regional stakeholders and getting them to make a responsible contribution is intended to ensure that RIS finds acceptance as a voluntary, binding framework for action.

Despite the diversity of the various sub-regions brought into the process (or perhaps precisely because of it), the term "region" is equated with the administrative borders of a provincial administrative district. In this way it is intended that measures and projects deemed necessary are quickly implemented and a distinct geographic character is achieved which is also perceived in international comparisons.

The term innovation is understood by RIS in its widest sense. State of the art technology, no matter how well recognised internationally, does not constitute the standard and the yardstick for measuring the degree of innovation. Instead it is measured in terms of the relative starting situation prevailing in the region in respect of the subjects under discussion.

RIS is intended to continue through to 2006. The RIS Innovative Actions and Networks have been funded through the Fourth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (RTD) (1994-1998), the Fifth RTD Framework Programme (1998-2002) and the Sixth RTD Framework Programme (2002-2006) of the European Commission.