Poland national service in CORDIS
Strategy
Wielkopolska is a region of significant intellectual and economic potential; however it requires to implement long-term measures with a view to take advantage out of it.
That is why the region decided to prepare a Regional Innovation Strategy in early 2000.
Preparation of RIS Strategy was possible by using RIS/RITTS methodology which has already proved successful in the EU countries. Wielkopolska received the support of EC for RIS project “Innovative Wielkopolska” (2002-2004). The project was based on a process of cooperation between different players of the innovation system: enterprises, universities, research units, providers of financial and advisory services, regional authorities and public institutions and made use of expert analyses concerning the companies needs in the field of innovation and the implementation of instruments for the supply of innovations coming from the science and assisting institutions. The process of building the Wielkopolska Innovation Strategy was assisted by partner regions - Brandenburg and Marche - which shared their experiences of their RIS/RITTS projects as well as regional and international experts.
The big success of the project was strong involvement of strategic players of the region and general public support. This was reflected by the number of persons involved in project structures (Working Groups - WG, Steering Committee - SC) and participating in events (conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings). The most tangible sign of the regional consensus achieved was “Wielkopolska Innovation Memorandum” signed by the most prominent representatives of the key region institutions at conference summing up the phase 0 of the project. The social capital mobilized turned out to be bigger that the expectations and pose challenge for the project to utilise and streamline in the next phase.
The year 2003 was the period of analysis and formulation of Strategy for RIS “Innovative Wielkopolska”. The main basic material in this process was provided by the questionnaire surveys, which were carried out in the in 5 fields of innovation environment: companies, R&D sector, support and financial institutions, less developed subregions and interregional collaboration.
The analysis has shown that in the field of entrepreneurship and innovation needs of regional enterprises main problems are short-term thinking and lack of financial measures for innovation as well as unwillingness of regional enterprises to collaborate with each other. As far as research and education supply is concerned it could be a driving force for economical development of the region however its activity should be more market-oriented and the mutual links between science and industry require strengthening. What is more, in reference to intermediary services and financing existing support instruments despite their multitude and diversity do not stand for the innovative enterprises’ needs (especially in terms of financial measures available for innovation) and require coordination. The other observation is that the in less developed areas some local innovation leaders were identified still they require stronger involvement of local authorities in pro-innovation activities. Also the sustainable development of Wielkopolska requires strengthening of less developed subregions. Basing on survey findings amended by WG and SC members a working paper of Innovation Strategy for Wielkopolska was prepared.
The Strategic goals formulated in the Strategy are:
- Integration of social and economic actors for enhancing innovation
- Increase of the ability of companies to introduce innovation
- The use of the research potential of Wielkopolska in order to increase the competitiveness of the economy
- Building of modern innovation infrastructure
The Regional Innovation Strategy document was adopted by Regional Parliament in March 2004.
Meanwhile preparation of some pilot projects has been carried out. This action aimed to maintain the involvement of WG members – to provide concrete perspective for their initiatives as well as to increase chances for financing some of them through structural funds as soon as they are available in Poland. During the workshop meetings with WG members several ideas for innovative projects were defined. During the last stage of the project Action Plan was prepared as well as methodology for Monitoring Unit was elaborated .
Wielkopolska started the implementation of RIS Strategy in 2004, using mainly structural funds and its special measure “Regional Innovation Strategy and transfer of knowledge”. The objective of this measure is improvement of regional potential in innovation field thought strengthen the links between science and industry.
Right now there are several projects running financed by this measure:
- Monitoring of the Regional Innovation Strategy,
- 12 projects in the area of creation and development of networks (networks of intermediaries, clusters, networks of cooperation between science and industry in specific sectors),
- 3 projects in the field of creation data bases and systems of communication,
- Traineeship for graduates and R&D employees in companies,
- Scholarships for best PhD students working in strategic areas for region development.
The organisation responsible for implementation of the “Regional Innovation Strategy and transfer of knowledge” measure is Poznan Science and Technology Park of Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation.