EU to strengthen “regional” dimension of Research and Innovation

The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions signed a new Joint Action Plan to enhance the role of cities and regions in research and innovation (R&I).

Under the Joint Action Plan, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions will collaborate to reinforce the regional and local dimension of the EU’s R&I policies and initiatives. The Join Action Plan will also support the implementation of the Commission’s key actions at local and regional levels and will facilitate the exchange of expertise and data between the two institutions.

The Action Plan sets out four concrete priorities to boost innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness across European cities and regions:

• Building strong local and regional innovation ecosystems – this includes supporting the implementation of the European Research Area and ensuring that knowledge gained from frontier research is integrated into innovation output. Attracting and retaining talent is essential for this.
• Facilitating the green and digital transition by supporting sustainable and inclusive innovation at local level.
• Raising awareness of – and promoting access to – funding opportunities and results under Horizon Europe among local governors: creating synergies among funds and exchanging best practices, including on simplification, research and innovation.
• Supporting evidence-based policymaking in regions, including territorial foresight and resilience.

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