1. When Exchanging is Good for Innovation: Experiences from Brandenburg
Reiner Kneifel-Haverkamp
Head of Unit, EU Economic and Financial Policies,
Coordination EU Funding
Regions for Economic Change – Networking for Results
Brussels, 17 February 2009

2. Brandenburg & Berlin: The German Capital Region

3. Why do we exchange? Improve regional innovation policy
Pilot new methods and tools of innovation support
Improve performance of our institutions
Promote Berlin-Brandenburg as innovative business region

4. Institutions Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg
Brandenburg Government
Brandenburg Economic Development Board - ZAB
Zukunftsagentur Brandenburg
Regional Development Bank - ILB
Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg

5. Which tools did/do we use? Some Examples
Innovative Actions (RISI, e-EuropeRegio)
Innovation Programme (RITTS)
INTERREG B (VBN InnoReg)
INTERREG C (SEED REG)
Framework Programmes for R&D
(before, CLUNET)
Associations, networks IRE)

6. VBN InnoReg www.baltic.org/vbn Objectives
Analysing the knowledge potential, good practices, joint interests and development needs in innovation promotion in VBN partner regions to develop a joint approach to innovation promotion for the VBN macro-region
Promoting regional collaboration and international networking between regional authorities, universities, technology centres and enterprises to foster competitiveness of the Baltic Sea region

7. SEED-REG
Objective: improve the effectiveness of early-stage financial support instruments, by the exploitation of interregional cooperation and through large-scale information exchange and sharing of experience,

8. before
Objectives:
comparative analysis (benchmarking) of efficient support instruments for the RTD in geographical areas with demographic significant imbalances (including specific support tools for rural companies and entrepreneurs)
Mentoring
foresight studies of policies and support instruments to RTD guided to future sectors, intensive in knowledge and with high added value

9. CLUNET
Objective:
share experiences and implement concrete pilot projects regarding cluster innovation and development policies;
focus on future challenges and opportunities for clusters,
Participation of the Montreal Metropolitan Community allows to benefit from the Canadian's experience in cluster policies and provides a unique platform for internationalisation.

10. What did we achieve?
We know the players and the themes, and we know better where we stand;
We improve internationality of regional cluster initiatives, SMEs and intermediaries;
We used project results for policy improvements;
We had „windfall profits“: we „discovered“ and developed a new sector (Security)

11. Innovative Actions contribution to regional development: BIS 2006 & BIEM
BIS Creation and implementation of a broad information society strategy (RISI )
Brandenburg innovation programme for e-business and media convergence BIEM - Initiating structural change in SME through the use of ICT, in particular
Digitalisation of business processes
Interconnecting small enterprises to virtual networks
(e-EuropeRegio 2000 – 2006)

12. What do we need to do at home?
Develop a more strategic approach to networking:
Improve practical arrangements (budget, advice)
More strategic selection of projects/networks
Dissemination of knowledge from projects/networks
Improve mainstreaming of project results into policy
improve internationalisation of regional cluster initiatives, SMEs and intermediaries
Stabilize and improve understanding for exchanges and cooperation at EU-level

13. What needs to be done at EU-level?
Money for people to meet: Simplify rules
(lump sums)
Current INTERREG B and C procedure produces disappointment!
Focus calls and/or create 2-step-procedure

14. Thank you for your attention!