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Speech of EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn at EBN Annual Conference - 5 March 2012
15/03/2012

EBN Annual Reception 2012 - Conference & Cocktail
“Smart & Specialized Networks for Smart & Specialized Strategies!”
5 March 2012, Brussels


"Innovation is a key component of a complex transformation process Europe needs to embark upon if it is to create growth and jobs in the decades to come... But it will only be effective if we approach it in a much smarter and comprehensive way than we have been doing in the past.... "

"EBN has thrived with its own business model and has been a strong ally for us in further developing our policy from a set of rules governing the Structural Funds to a real transformational policy."

"So, in many ways EBN can be seen as a pioneer and a torch bearer of what gradually has become a key pillar within our policy, namely the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship..."

"So it is vital to our economic future and the future of the European project that we spawn a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship everywhere across Europe..."

"The aim here is to catalyse a strategic process, whereby each Member State or region identifies those knowledge-based investments that are most likely to deliver growth and jobs.  This is not something that can be done top down. It has to be based on real partnership with the business sector and with innovation agents in the regions such as universities and research centres, incubators, innovation centres and business intermediaries... "

"I fully agree with your statement in the invitation to this event that we also need smart and specialised delivery mechanisms.  That is exactly why the governance dimension and the involvement of stakeholders is so important and why we have involved networks like EBN and others into the smart specialisation platform, where they help us to fine-tune the concept."

Extracts from full speech by EU Commissionner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn.


Download EU Commissionner's full speech
click here
.

Have a look at the pictures of the event!
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Check speakers' presentations!
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See
video interview of Paul Jorion at the conference !
click here

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