Page 1 Fostering Regional Innovation « Promoting Innovative Solutions » Evaluation of Regional Innovation System ImpactScan Bretagne Innovation Wednesday 11th October 2006, Brussels. BRETAGNE INNOVATION James Leighton – Managing Director

Page 2 BRETAGNE INNOVATION >Regional Innovation Agency, within the RDA >Created by the Regional Council of Brittany for: - The coordination of and communication for the innovation support network in Brittany - The promotion and the improvement of the regional innovation policy for SMEs >2005, Analysis of innovation support in the region*, (CCRRDT) 2 priority action points: >Improve coordination & lisibility >Effective evaluation

Page 3 Improving Coordination and lisibility >Both top level (policy makers) & ground level (intermediaries) >Top level: Regional Economic development plan (SRDE) >Includes coordinated approach from financers and policy makers (State, Region, local govt., CCI, …) >Ground level: Creation of an « Innovation Gateway » >Direct access to information on innovation in Brittany, dedicated to SMEs : >news, exhibitions, training, publications & newsletters, partner search… >A gateway giving access to all relevant information concerning innovation support for SMEs >Simplifies the network, valorises the participation and actions of the partners

Page 4 Innovation Gateway WWW. bretagne- innovation.fr

Page 5 Improving Evaluation; Tools & method to evaluate the impact of regional innovation policies >EU support for RIS for over 10 years: >No systematic evaluation of the impact of the innovation support structures and policies put in place >Support for action to improve assessment & benchmarking capabilities by appropriate methods & tools >ImpactScan; FP6, 06/2005 – 02/2008

Page 6 Partners CountryRegionPartner BEFlandersIWT (Coordinator) ATLower-AustriaAmt der NOE Landesregierung FRBrittanyBretagne Innovation ESMadridFCm+d NLLimburgSyntens Zuid PLLower-SilesiaWroclaw Centre for Technology Transfer SLSloveniaMunicipality of Ljubljana Coordinateur: Marnix Voet, IWT ImpactScan, FP6

Page 7 Problems & Method >Problems: >Different regional economic profiles >Different policy objectives >Varying levels of RIS >Different intermediary structures >Varied types of governance >Solution: Policy objectives are compared with impact of firms outcomes using a matrix system

Page 8 Influences out of scope IMPACTSCAN Impact on firms: outcomes Firms' needs Innovation enablers Regional context Socio-Economic and Politico-Institutional features / Innovative Profile Policy Making Intermediaries Services Regional development effect Intermediaries Policy objectives impact scores Services Interme diaries impact scores Firms outcomes Innovation enablers impact scores Regional effect Firms outcomes impact scores Innovation enablers Services performance scores Scope: Generic Framework

Page 9 Regional Self Assessment >Policy objectives X intermediaries (matrix 1), clarify priorities top/ground >Intermediaries X services offered (matrix 2) + policy/services, check for variations >Services X Innovation enablers (matrix 3), check for gaps is service offer >Services X firms outcomes, identify impact >Service providers perception + firms perception

Page 10 Regional Benchmarking >Comparative analysis of innovation policy impact for: >Information exchange >Cross-fertilisation >Mutual learning >Transfer of best practice >Identification of common strategic issues >Profile types for different regions >Enable meaningful comparisons of impact X objectives irrespective of region typology

Page 11 Conclusion >Evaluation of the impact of RIS is a priority for Regional Government and EC >Working in the framework of an FP6 program mutualises actions, shares knowledge, and improves efficiency >Comparing policy objectives with achieved results enables benchmarking despite regional differences >Recommendation(s) for improving innovation support will be identified >Sharing of this methodology will both benefit other regions and improve benchmarking