1. Support action for innovation mainstreaming within the Enlarged Europe INNOVATION COACH First visit to the Region. November 2005 Strand III projects

2. Strand III Objectives 1.To enhance the implementation of the RIS-NAC action plans and to help the regions to convert them into sustainable regional policies. 2.To create a mechanism which gives the regions smooth access to good practice in the field of innovation policies, support schemes and strategies. 3.To allow the mobilisation of the best European expertise for the design of selected innovation support measures in the RIS- NAC regions.

3. Strand III Geographical ant Technical scope 4 projects launched focusing financial and non-financial targets  Projects focusing on non-financial RIS elements:  Project focusing on financial RIS elements: INTRO 5 SCHEMES IMIS 2 regions : LV, PL (West Pomerania) 5 regions: BG, PL (Warmia, Wielkopolska), SI, CY 9 regions: CZ, EE, HU(3), PL (Opole, Silesia), RO, SK INNOVATION COACHAll 16 regions + Coordination for all strand 3 projects

4. Innovation Coach: Our mission Work side-by-side with RIS Regions to optimize the implementation (acceleration and higher performances) of their innovation action plans by exploiting EU added value (mutual learning and cooperation in innovation policy)

5. Innovation Coach Key issues  All the regions having completed their RIS  Innovation Finance  Partnership

6. Innovation Coach: Who we are? EXPERTISESCOPE AND MISSIONROLE META Group KNOWLEDGE BASED EXPERIENCE OF THE INNOVATION PROCESS FROM POLICIES TO ACTION AND A SPECIAL FOCUS ON INNOVATION FINANCE ADVISING AND COUNSELLING FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPENEURSHIP PROMOTION TO PUBLIC BODIES, UNIVERSITIES, SMES Coordinator TII EU ASSOCIATION WITH WIDE EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF TT AND RESEARCH/MARKET RELATIONSHIP NETWORKING AND CAPACITY BUILDING DEALING WITH INNOVATION SUPPORT, TT, RESEARCH-MARKET RELATIONSHIPS Contractor EURADA EU ASSOCIATION OF RDAS WITH WIDE EXPERTISE ON LINKING INNOVATION TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURAL FUNDS NETWORKING AND CAPACITY BUILDING FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (CLUSTERING, INWARD INVESTMENT, DEDICATED FINANCE, ETC) Contractor

7. Consortium added value The peculiar composition of Innovation Coach consortium grants:  direct access to more than 400 organizations/ experts- as well as good practices- in the innovation domain  Complementary skills and know how covering all the whole life- cycle of action plan implementation  coverage of a wider policy framework than only innovation (local economic development and Structural Funds)  high networking and dissemination capacity

8. How will we operate? 1.Dialogue with Regions to understand needs and priorities and receive feedback on support provided 2.Gather best EU knowledge and expertise to be applied to.. 3.Work out the implementation solutions better matching regional interests and local conditions 4.Transfer to RIS Regions the know-how needed to effectively manage the scheme introduced and design future versions 5.Support regional absorption Innovation Coach will…

9. Where will we operate? Innovation Coach will be present in all the RIS Regions having completed their innovation action plan, therefore….. Synergies and exchanges among projects will be fostered Lessons on implementing innovation policy in the Enlarged Europe will be drawn and continuously exploited to improve our support

10. ADDED-VALUE SERVICES: oERDF MEASURES DELIVERY (including operational arrangements for implementation) oGUIDELINES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH EU REQUIREMENTS / DIRECTIVES oNEGOTIATION ASSISTANCE (Participation to institutional tables and Committees, capacity building) IC experts will supply RIS Regions with: PREPARING RIS ACTION LINES FOR STRUCTURAL FUNDS

11. FINAL RESULTS A fully-engineered innovation scheme “ready to use” Local teams in charge of implementation duly trained to follow the process through An adequate level of consensus already built around the action The ground prepared for Structural Funds intervention

13. Thanks for your attention José Syne www.innovationcoach.net