The document discusses the Regions of Knowledge program under the EU's 7th Framework Programme. It provides an overview of the program's goals, funding amounts, and annual topics from 2007-2011. The 2011 call focused on transnational cooperation between regional research-driven clusters to boost competitiveness in the transport sector through innovative approaches. The program aims to promote regional economic development, smart specialization, and public-private partnerships through mentoring and developing joint research agendas between clusters in different EU countries and regions. While successful in integrating more regions into the knowledge economy, the program could be expanded through increased funding and synergies with other EU funding instruments.

1. 1
16/03/2017
Dr. Philippe de Taxis du Poët
Head of Science and Technology
Delegation of the European Union to India
Regional Dimension
of the 7th Framework Programme
The Regions of Knowledge Programme

2. 2
16/03/2017
FP7 2007–2013
Health
Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Information and Communication Technologies
Energy
Environment (including Climate Change)
Transport
Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities
Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production
Technologies
Security and Space*
Research Infrastructures
Research for the Benefit
Of SMEs
Regions of Knowledge
Research Potential
Science in Society
Activities of International
Co-operation
Coherent Development
of Policies
Initial Training of Researchers
Lifelong Learning and Career Development
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways
The International Dimension
Specific Actions
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways
The International Dimension
Specific Actions
Starting Independent Researcher Grants
Advanced Investigator Grants
COOPERATION (32.413 MEUR)
IDEAS (7.510 MEUR)
CAPACITIES (4.097 MEUR)
PEOPLE (4.750 MEUR)
+ CCR (1.751 MEUR)
+ EURATOM (2.700 MEUR)
* Separate themes

3. 3
16/03/2017
● Need to boost science and technology-based
economic development, by better integrating research
to their regional innovation strategies
● Within the framework of the Lisbon and Europe2020
strategies for a performing knowledge-based economy
● promote the emergence of world class clusters in
Europe
● To help reach the Barcelona objectives
● Synergies with cohesion and innovation and cluster
policies
Regions of knowledge - Policy context

4. 4
16/03/2017
Research, innovation and cohesion policy: respecting
difference while achieving synergies
COMMON GOAL : Employment + Growth
Policy Main Target Funding
Instrument
Budget
(2007-2013)
Research S&T-excellence,
international
FP 7 55 Bill. €
Innovation Turning knowledge into
business opportunities
CIP 3,6 Bill €
Cohesion Promote regional
excellence,
convergence
ERDF
ESF
EARDF
347 Bill €
thereof:
~ 86 B€ earmarked
for RTDI
More details: COM(2007) 474, 16.8.2007
Practical guidelines published on CORDIS

5. 5
16/03/2017
Synergies with EU clusters initiatives
Initiative for
Excellence
of Cluster
Organisations
European
Cluster
Observatory
Cluster
Partnerships
(Cluster-IP)
Structural Funds
FP7
INTERREG
Expertise
Policy Cooperation
Analysis
New and better
tools
Quality
support

6. 6
16/03/2017
Research
Entity
Business
entity
(e.g. SME)
Regional
Research–
Driven Cluster
Regional
Authority
Other Actors
(e.g. TTOs,
consultants)
What is a Regional
Research-Driven Cluster?

7. 7
16/03/2017
Some strategic aspects
● Strategic positioning of the targeted clusters
u Focus on dynamic clusters, incl. cluster organisations
u At least three RDCs involved from 3 countries
u Focus on a few networks: budget per project (1 to 3 M €)
● Alignment with the Commission’s policy initiatives, e.g,
INNOVA, cluster policy initiative, Innovation Union
● Mentoring as a compulsory activity
● Internationalization activities allowed and encouraged

8. 8
16/03/2017
Regions of Knowledge
Four last years
Calls from 2007 to 2010
2007 2008 2009 2010
Eligible proposals 94 85 29 33
EC requested contribution 85.255.080 € 61.527.141€ 53.812.481 € 72.020.207 €
Average EC requested Budget 885.810 € 891.697€ 1.674.312 € 2.057.720 €
Funded proposals 17 15 9 8
EC contribution 10M€ 10.1M€ 16.15M€ 16.95M€*

9. 9
16/03/2017
Regions of Knowledge
annual variation of topics
● 2007: research and SMEs; rural and maritime economies
● 2008: research infrastructures ; reducing CO2 emissions
● 2009: sustainable use of natural resources
● 2010: health, including e-health
● 2011: sustainable transport
● 2012: energy ? (under consultation)

10. 10
One call, REGIONS-2011, targeting the transnational cooperation of
regional research driven clusters (open in July – closing on 9 Dec.2010)
- for a total of 18,66 M €
Participants
ØConsortia of at least 3 regional research-driven clusters from 3
different Member States or Associated countries
• Possible representation by one member - under conditions
• Compulsory description of the full clusters and their triple helix
structure
ØCoordinator : either a regional authority or a fully fledged RDC (with legal
entity)
Regions of knowledge
2011 Call for proposals

11. 11
• Boosting the competitiveness of transport related
economy
• Support innovative capacity of European transport related
industries and business
• Promote sustainable transport in an integrated technology-
led and user friendly way
• Examples: greening of transport, development of
intermodal regional transport, urban mobility, safety or
security
We favour innovative and cross-disciplinary approaches !
Regions of knowledge
WP 2011 thematic scope

12. 12
Transnational cooperation of research driven
clusters
Ø Analysis, development and implementation of research
agendas
Ø Mentoring of regions with a less developed research
profile for capacity building (compulsory)
Ø Initiatives to improve integration: definition of joint
action plans (JAP), together with business plans –
following SWOT analysis and definition of RTD needs
Ø Measures towards the implementation of the JAP
Ø International cooperation activities (optional)
Ø Dissemination activities
REGIONS-2011 funded activities

13. 13
16/03/2017
Ø Developing and integrating research-driven clusters across Europe in
order to promote regional economic development and worldwide
competitiveness
Ø Contribute to smart specialisation of regions from R&D point of view
Ø Stimulate more effective investments in R&D at regional level via tailor
made regional strategies based on business needs
Ø Initiate private and public partnerships, which would mobilize European,
national and regional funds and promote synergies notably with the
Structural Funds, and the CIP
Ø Including more regions into the knowledge economy and the ERA,
especially through the mentoring of regions with a less developed research
profile
REGIONS 2011: Expected impact

14. 14
16/03/2017
Ø Successful funding programme since 2007
Ø well perceived by European clusters, policy makers and regional
developers
Approach of annually varying but widely defined topics well proven
Ø However, limited funding and reach of co-ordination actions
Ø Need to develop synergies with other funding instruments
Ø Regions have become players in knowledge economy
Ø Clusters as regional innovation engines
Ø Need to look further beyond the edge of Europe by developing
internationalisation strategies
Ø Need to upgrade clusters to become global players
REGIONS of Knowledge - Conclusions

15. 15
16/03/2017
Thank you for your attention !