Working Group Innovation

EuroCitiesEconomic Development Forum

Utrecht, February 27th, 2014

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introduction2. Discussion on Chair and Invitation for chair/vice-chair

20143. Discussion on visit Dutch Game Garden4. Member presentation from Utrecht and Amsterdam5. Eurocities open data guide book and 6. EU policies on open data (George Niland – Eurocities7. Topics of Interest for WG Innovation (Jeroen van Oort)

Welcome and Introduction

Objectives for 2014Understand how innovation systems and processes are being implemented across the EU

– Open Data – Attracting talents and skills– Financing Innovation

In Utrecht, Brussels and Brno we will for this topics focus on• good examples/learning from each other• implementation of Europe2020/innovation

Discussion on Chair

• Jeroen van Oort, chair of Working Group Innovation, left Netwerkstad Twente and works for Leiden University, now.

• There was no co-chair, now• Although not working for a city anymore, Jeroen

van Oort is available to continue chairing the innovation working group, but for the year 2014, only.

• A new chair, co chair, vice chair or helping successor is needed.

Discussion on visit Dutch Game Garden

• What did you learn from the visit?• Is this something you could copy, on the same

or another topic, in your city? Why (not)?• What would you advice Utrecht to improve

the concept?• What could in your opinion the European

Union do to improve the concept?• Is there a similar concept in your city? Which?

Member presentations

1 Utrecht

2 Amsterdam

Presentation George Niland

1. Eurocities open data guide book and 2. EU policies on open data

Working on the 2014 program

Topics of Interest for Working Group Innovation

Jeroen van Oort

Objectives for 2014remembering the Glasgow conference

Understand how innovation systems and processes are being implemented across the EU

– Open Data – Attracting talents and skills– Financing Innovation

In Utrecht, Brussels and Brno we will for this topics focus on• good examples/learning from each other• implementation of Europe2020/innovation

Starting an inquiry into local innovation policies

The following overview is collected from data provided by the cities of Amsterdam, Enschede, Gijon, Lisbon, Lyon, Manchester, Paris, Preston, Terrassa.

Is financing innovation a problem for companies in your region?

Is financing innovation a problem for companies in your region?

Yes

No

Yes, it is.

Financing innovation is a problem, but our cities do provide some policy answers…• Gathering stakeholders• High risk early stage investment• Educating investors in potential of emerging technologies• Investment funds/joining Jessica and Jeremie/micro-credit funding/seed capital funding• Supporting access to R&D funding

Helping both existing companies and start-ups

Policy for existing companies: 70%Policy for start-ups: 87%

Policies include:• Information on entrepreneurship, special rents,

information on financing• Focus on growth potentials• Supporting access to R&D• Special funding• Network building/partner search

Main problems in financing innovation

Local problems:• access to credit at high risk and early stage• banks being reluctant• being competitive• limited engagement in national programs• taxes

Main problems in financing innovation

EU problems:• lack of regulations to give SME’s more and easier access to finance• lack of taxation union• protection (patents)

Attracting talents and skills (70% has active policies)

Main local problems• brain drain due to unemployment rate • brain drain due to larger cities being more attractive to employees• mismatch in the labour market between vacancies for high skilled people and unemployment for low skilled people• low local salaries in some areas (competitiveness to other areas)

Attracting talents and skills (70% has active policies)

Main local policies• cooperation with local university• celebration of enterpreneurship/festivals• stimulating links between research institutes and companies• most cities actively inves t in keeping graduated people in their city (all respondents have tertiary education in their city), internships, grants to industry

Attracting talents and skills

Attracting people from elsewhere

From elsewhere in the country 75%From other EU-member states 50%

Going on together

•Elections EU-parliament in May•New EU commission in early autumn

EuroCities Innovation Working Group year result after Brno:Bidbook with our ideas on problem solving on innovation policies for new MPs and Commissionars. Who joins?

Part of the program in Brussels

Glenn Gassen explains

In Brussels we could talk about what we learned for iCapital, the EU award for having an integrated innovative system.

We could invite Giuseppe Ruotolo and some (nominated) cities could present their cases.

Thank you for attending, and

see you in Brussels, June 5th!