1. Power of the regions! Onno Hoes Regional Minister for Economic and European Affairs of Noord-Brabant President of the AER Committee for Regional Policies

2. Drivers for innovation (1) absorption of research results absorption of research results enhance innovation power of SMEs enhance innovation power of SMEs co-operation between key players from business, knowledge institutes and government co-operation between key players from business, knowledge institutes and government

3. Drivers for innovation (2) combine innovation efforts of regional, national and European governments combine innovation efforts of regional, national and European governments f o c u s f o c u s two-track policy: cohesion ánd strengths two-track policy: cohesion ánd strengths

4. Drivers for innovation (3) connect innovation with the ecological and social agenda connect innovation with the ecological and social agenda ageing, safety, energy, flexible labour market, traffic jams, revitalise countryside ageing, safety, energy, flexible labour market, traffic jams, revitalise countryside

5. Noord-Brabant as an example Innovation Action Program Innovation Action Program cross border co-operation: Eindhoven – Aachen – Leuven triangle cross border co-operation: Eindhoven – Aachen – Leuven triangle Peaks in the Delta: Brainport/Maintenance Valley Peaks in the Delta: Brainport/Maintenance Valley

6. Noord-Brabant as an example Open innovation: Eindhoven High Tech Campus Eindhoven High Tech Campus BioConnection BioConnection

7. European programmes GROW GROW MATEO MATEO Lifescape – your landscape Lifescape – your landscape Regions for Research (FP6) Regions for Research (FP6)

8. Is Brussels ready to be a real partner for the European regions?

9. Implications for Brussels active European industrial policy active European industrial policy support hot spots and technology valleys support hot spots and technology valleys coherent application of Structural Funds and the Framework programs coherent application of Structural Funds and the Framework programs

10. Europe: a distinctive player in the global economy Power to the regions!