Innovation
This knowledge theme explored how health sector investment, policy and practice in R&D can be aligned with regional policies on technology development/application and entrepreneurship. This involved relevant stakeholders, making best use of structural funds, mobilising wide range of local resources and encouraging health sector investment in R&D within the health sector supply chain and university sector in ways that create social added value from innovation and technology transfer.
Among the issues to be addressed are how to:
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promote integration of technology and infrastructure (housing, transport, health care delivery) in order to promote social value e.g. online elderly communities,
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foster the development of local SMEs (cross-link with C2 procurement theme),
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improve entrepreneurial skills and support the development of new environmentally friendly technologies,
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promote women's participation in technology development,
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enhance international competitiveness of SMEs (support to traditional products and creativity, development of ICT technology and E-commerce),
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develop efficient business consultancy and innovation (establishing regional business centres, organising fairs).
The experiences and knowledge of partner regions have been shared and developed through two events and supporting work:
Workshop: Potsdam (Germany), June 2007
Policy Forum: Merseyside (United Kingdom), October 2007.
Innovation Report