The Belarusian Institute Of System Analysis And Informational Support Of Scientific And Technical Sphere

International Workshop "Developing the regional dimension of innovation policies" (Minsk, 30 May 2013)
Document address: http://www.belisa.org.by/en/actions/conference/sem_regional.html

16.04.2013

The State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus (SCST) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will hold an International Workshop “Developing the regional dimension of innovation policies” on 30 May 2013 in Minsk, Belarus. It’s the next event in the cycle of SCST – UNECE actions aimed at improving the state innovation policy in Belarus which are scheduled in the joint action plan for 2012–2013.

Interest to regional innovation policy (RIP) in many countries, especially in small ones, results from the understanding of the fact that many driving forces of innovation operate at local and regional level. Moreover, innovation infrastructure development and, on the whole, mobilization of corresponding assets for innovation, is often implemented through regional measures and organization of unions (clusters) between interested parties exactly at this level. Similar processes occur in Belarus as well, although at lower pace than it could be. The idea that there is an unrealized potential for innovations, which could be materialized with the help of the regional level initiatives and improving the coordination between national and regional policy nourishes the growing interest for RIP in the world.

The aim of the Workshop is to provide the national stakeholders and experts with the best foreign experiences in the given area and a platform for discussing it, taking into consideration the specifics of the host country; to familiarize  participants with the most interesting examples of innovation activities and perspective practices in RIP in the regions of Belarus. The list of topics to discuss may include but is not limited by the following ones:

• How regional and national innovation policies are interconnected?
• Which factors should be considered while developing RIP?
• Development of innovation infrastructure in the regions of the country
• Foreign experience in setting up of regional innovation clusters
• Sustainable innovation region: which are the prerequisites? How to identify the “growth points”? How to develop them?
• The examples of RIP and its application in different countries, including Belarus
• How does a neighborhood influence RIP and its implementation? Trans-boundary innovation cooperation.

In selecting the invited speakers, organizers of the Workshop aim at attracting variable expertise (policy-makers and practitioners) and presenting experience of different European countries. Experts from Belgium, UK, Spain, UNECE and Belarus have already confirmed their participation. The program of the Workshop will be available soon at the web-site of the SCST http://www.gknt.org.by, and also at the National Science and Technology Portal of Republic of Belarus http://www.scienceportal.org.by.

The target audience of the Workshop is:

• specialists of public and regional administration bodies, engaged in the issues of innovation policy
• representatives of innovation infrastructure, small and medium-sized enterprises and business unions
• researcher active in the area of innovation policy.

The Workshop is going to take place at the conference-hall of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: 1 Academicheskaya str., 4th floor, Minsk, Belarus.

The participation in the Workshop is free of charge. The working languages are Russian and English, simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

To participate in the workshop, please, send your application till May, 23th, 2013 to the e-mail smirnova@belisa.org.by (Svetlana Smirnova, BelISA, phone +375 17 2094326, fax +375 17 2094326.

You’re welcome to participate in the workshop!

• Programme (MS Word, 120 Kb)  30.05.2013
• Participation Form (MS Word, 15 Kb)
   

Photos

Source: BelISA, Center for Foreign Economoc Innovation and Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Investment