07/05/2013

WIRE Conference To Take Place In Cork

Under the auspices of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a prestigious three day conference, 'The Week of Innovative Regions in Europe' (WIRE), will take place in Cork from 5 - 7 June 2013.

The WIRE2013 Conference will see up to 500 delegates from 20 countries coming together to focus on regional aspects relevant to the final stages of the design and legislative process for the European Union’s next funding programme, Horizon 2020. As a result, European regional policy and regional development will be influenced by this conference.

The theme of the Conference is 'Regions: leading the way' and will include high profile speakers such as Sean Sherlock TD Minister of State for Research and Innovation and Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science. Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn will also award the winners of the first European Prize for Innovation in Public Administration. Nine local, regional and national authorities across Europe will be awarded 100 000 EUR for their initiatives that benefit citizens, firms or education and research to scale up their winning initiatives. The Prizes should highlight efficient public spending and inspire others to follow their example.

Organised by Enterprise Ireland, the Conference will directly engage with and include the business community, SMEs and multinational corporations, bringing them together with regional, national and European stakeholders - including public organisations, policymakers, research communities and enterprises - to address, develop and progress the strengthening of regional ecosystems in the areas of research, technological development and innovation.

Financed by the European Commission, the WIRE Conference series is recognised as a key element in promoting regional development. The Conference will aim to identify what role there can be for regions in the Horizon 2020 programme as well as challenges, niche opportunities to add value, how to exploit opportunities as well as providing a platform to benchmark, network and establish future partnerships.

(CD/MH)


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