The setting up of the thematic network will not
yield new activities in the single regions, but mutual learning from
already on-going activities and, where feasible, a closer trans-regional
interlinking will take place. Moreover, by integrating regions such
as Kaunas, Gdansk and Pest the mutual learning process can be enhanced,
thus helping these regions prepare their future access to the European
Community.
It is planned to structure this exchange of experiences
around a systematic approach which takes up the bundle of measures
stated above as well as the experiences of the participating regions
and focus them on the target of regional innovation profiling.
The idea of the systematic approach is described in
the following graphic:
On the basis of the identification of the existing innovation
potential the SMEs and large enterprises must be stimulated for innovation
activities. Once this is achieved, the priorities are defined so that
the existing, scarce resources are not wasted by indiscriminate distribution,
but to support the targeted creation of competence. This support will
be transmitted financially through the corresponding support programmes
of the region. Apart from the regional support programmes, the international
aspect will play a major role: this applies to the European support
as well as to the integration of suited international innovation partners.
Finally, the marketing and external presentation of the established
innovation competencies play a decisive role since only then, the
know-how potential which is available within the region can be perceived
and used by enterprises/innovators in the other regions. By generating
a systematic feedback of each of these phases, the continuous learning
and thus the further development of the single measures can be ensured.
It will be an interesting task for the network to experience
whether this approach can be adapted to regions from the newly associated
countries, such as Kaunas, Gdansk and Pest- Bács.
The network partners evolve a
thesis:
By intensive experience exchange and the transregional linking of
single, already ongoing activities in the framework of a systematic
overall approach, the regions can obtain a clearer innovation profile
than they have so far.
Developing a regional innovation profile means linking
innovation support actors and initiatives to a well-functioning regional
innovation support infrastructure, and defining unique features in
each region on which the communication of the regional profile will
be built. The co-operation of the STRINNOP network will be built on
exchange of experience on how the support infrastructure is to be
developed in order to maximise the benefits of the companies. Each
region will also present successful initiatives and good practice
to the other network members.
The network also further developed the approach and
the members defined seven steps of the innovation process and three
further as accompanying measures. This updated version is described
in the following graphic:
The step by step approach compromise now 7 steps building up on each
other. Still there are a lot of strong interweavements between the
single steps requiring an iterative process instead of a linear one.
According to this updated approach the regions present
successful initiatives and good practice.
