The role of research and development in regional economics

A conference on the potential of research and development in structural support schemes for the enlargement of the EU will be held in Vienna, Austria, on 13 and 14 December 1998. The event follows up a previous conference on these issues held in Vienna, Austria, in December 1997, and is organised with the support of the European Commission, DG XII.

The conference will aim to highlight the options and possibilities for enhancing regional development by stimulating research and technological development (RTD). Discussions will elaborate on the issues raised in a study carried out for DG XII on the impact of EU enlargement on research, innovation and structural policies. This study highlighted the usefulness of an innovation-oriented strategy and the need to strengthen the stimulation of RTD in policies for supporting regional development such as the EU's Structural Funds.

Participants in the conference will comprise representatives from government departments dealing with regional policy, research and development, and science from each applicant country, as well as representatives from industry in these countries. The following topics will be presented during the conference:

- The role of RTD in the integration process;
- Structural funds and RTD policies: best practice in EU Member States;
- Case studies of RTD-led regional development in the Central and Eastern European countries;
- Industry requirements from RTD policies;
- RTD as an instrument for economic development.
For further information, please contact:

Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning
Ms. Herta Toedt-Schönhofer
27 Franz-Josefs-Kai
A-1010 Wien
Tel. +43-1-533874713; Fax +43-1-533874766
E-mail: schoenhofer@oir.or.at