EPRC~UK IRC workshop: Innovation policy challenges in Europe's regions

The European Policies Research Centre co-hosted a workshop with the UK Innovation Research Centre, based at Cambridge University and Imperial College London, on the theme ‘Innovation policy challenges in the regions of Europe' on Friday 16th September at the Scottish Universities Insight Institute in Glasgow . It was attended by over 50 people from the fields of public policy, innovation research and business consultancy, who were welcomed to the workshop by university principal, Prof. Jim McDonald.

Keynote speaker, Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, emphasised importance of innovation for the Scottish economy, not only in fields such as energy and engineering but also in terms of new business models and approaches to cooperation, and noted the Scottish Government's commitment to supporting business innovation as part of its broader economic development strategy.

In the first session, Marion Frenz of Birkbeck University of London presented an analysis of different typologies of business innovation strategies (or modes of innovation), while Knut Senneseth of Innovation Norway described the results of a recent study on innovation in Norway's regions, which showed strengths, not only in Oslo and western engineering regions but also in the far north. In addition, David Charles of EPRC examined the range of ways in which universities contribute to innovation, particularly in structurally weaker regions.

After coffee, Colin Mason, of the Hunter Centre at the University of Strathclyde , noted the increase in public sector involvement in venture capital in the UK in recent years, particularly outside south-east England , as well as concerns over the effectiveness of this policy approach. Michael Kitson of the University of Cambridge challenged a number of orthodoxies in regional innovation policy, arguing that new directions were needed. David Connell, also of the University of Cambridge , questioned current views of innovation policy, calling for grants to encourage private sector ‘lead customers', greater use of government procurement to support innovation, and funding for intermediate R&D institutions.

In the day's final session, Graham Gudgin of the University of Cambridge drew lessons from Finnish and Swedish approaches to R&D and innovation policy, arguing for a more coordinated approach (e.g. between innovation and education policies), while Mickaël Vaillant of DATAR in France described the French approach to regional innovation strategies. Lastly, Ruth Sime (Highlands & Islands Enterprise) and Ian McCoull (Scottish Enterprise) described a number of different approaches to innovation support in Scotland .

The speakers' presentations and a copy of the workshop programme can be found below.

Presentations
	Mixed modes of innovation Marion Frenz, Birkbeck University of London
	Universities and regional innovation David Charles , University of Strathclyde
	Regional innovation in Norway Knut Senneseth, Innovation Norway
	Financing entrepreneurial businesses in the regions Colin Mason, University of Strathclyde
	New Directions in Regional Innovation Policy Michael Kitson, University of Cambridge
	Alternatives to Silicon Valley: How R&D services can provide a stepping stone to building new industrial clusters David Connell, University of Cambridge
	Nordic approaches to R&D policy Graham Gudgin, University of Cambridge
	Regional innovation strategies in France Mickaël Vaillant, DATAR, France
	Innovation support in Scotland Ian McCoull, Scottish Enterprise
	Innovation policy and practice in the Highlands and Islands Ruth Sime, Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Conference materials
	Workshop programme