The format chosen for this edition of WIRE :
• plenary sessions
• workshops in parallel, where the number of participants will be around 100 to 120, with two or three speakers, one moderator, and one rapporteur
• panel discussions: live, in-person discussions on a specific topic with a selected group of experts who share differing perspectives in front of an audience
• networking breaks during the coffee breaks, lunches, etc.
• and lab visits
A very important role was identified from the start of the project: explain how this conference could help participants disseminate good practices to allow the EU to become a leader in breakthrough innovation, unleashing the potential of regions.
Several impacts were identified: scientific, societal, and economic impacts. The orientations of the 2022 WIRE conference were to increase the level of knowledge of all the stakeholders in all of these domains, focusing on the power of regions more specifically. The idea was to enhance access to research and innovation excellence and enhance links between innovation ecosystems across the EU.
Concerning the scientific impact, the WIRE conference was expected to promote scientific excellence, as well as support the creation and sharing of new, high-quality fundamental and applied knowledge and skills. The conference presented talents at all levels.
In terms of the societal impact, the Wire conference aimed to strengthen the impact of R&I in presenting and supporting Union policies, and support the uptake of innovative solutions in industry, notably in SMEs and society to address global challenges, inter alia the SDGs.
The conference presented and gave examples of pathways to reach these goals for each of these impacts.
We insisted on best practices, examples of companies that have succeeded in managing breakthrough innovation, and best practices in regions that have managed to create a flourishing ecosystem for innovation.
The aim of the conference was to provide a platform for policy-makers, public authorities, knowledge centres, and companies from all over Europe to discuss R&I practices, challenges, and opportunities throughout European regions, with a direct view to current and future EU funding programmes.
