This thematic seminar "Knowledge valorisation for the regional and local R&I ecosystems", jointly organised by the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions on 14 May, will focus on how regional and local authorities can foster knowledge valorisation and boost innovation ecosystems, translating knowledge into practical and innovative solutions. The workshop will explore this question, drawing upon experiences and practical insights gained from the Mutual Learning Exercise on Knowledge Valorisation and from the Committee’s Members.

One of the flagship areas of the New European Innovation Agenda, established in 2022 to set a comprehensive European strategy for innovation, is accelerating and strengthening innovation in R&I ecosystems across the EU and addressing the persistent innovation divide across Europe despite various EU and national actions.  Enhanced diffusion of knowledge is among the complementarity actions that can generate innovation potential and strengthen regional innovation ecosystems, thereby improving the daily lives of citizens and offering innovative solutions to the challenges and opportunities currently facing Europe.

As outlined in the Council recommendation on the guiding principles for knowledge valorisation adopted in December 2022, knowledge valorisation aims to generate social and economic value from knowledge by integrating various sectors and transforming data, expertise, and research findings into sustainable products, services, solutions, and evidence-based policies. The Council's recommendation sets out common policy principles and measures for national, regional, and local policymakers to transform R&I results into solutions that benefit society.

The guiding principles are:

• (i) engaging all actors in R&I ecosystems;
• (ii) focusing on connections and co-creation between actors; and
• (iii) emphasising entrepreneurial skills and practices.

Moreover, in line with European Research Area (ERA) action 7, the European Commission has launched a Mutual Learning Exercise (MLE) on Knowledge Valorisation, which started on 24 March 2023 and was financed by the Horizon Europe Policy Support Facility (PSF).

You can find the programme here. Registration is open until 12 May 2024. 

The seminar will be held back-to-back with a workshop co-organised with the EESCon Exploring Artificial Intelligence in R&D, from 9:30 to 13:00.

Knowledge valorisation is a topic of interest for ERRIN's Science and Education for Society (SEFS) Working Group. The presentations from the most recent SEFS WG meeting on the societal impact of Research and Innovation held on 22 April, can be retrieved here.