Benefits from societal innovation are not the privilege of regions with structural innovation capacity. This conclusion from the newest ESPON research commissioned by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union was the theme of the ESPON seminar, that took place on 7 and 8 December in Prague. 

Presentations available below

See photos from the event

The ESPON seminar offered the first-of-its-kind forum in Europe discussing the use of European funds for transforming our regional economies in the interest of society. It was an opportunity to mainstream the practice of Entrepreneurial Regional Governance and inform about the New European Innovation Agenda.

Some of the topics addresses were:

 - the New European Innovation Agenda (JRC)

- the Entrepreneurial Regional Governance concept (ESPON)

- the Partnerships for Regional Innovation (JRC)

- Smart Specialisation Strategies adjusted for Sustainable Development Goals (JRC and Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade)

- Public Service Innovation and Open Governance (OECD)

- Digital Innovation in Governance and Public Services, notably open data (ESPON)