International Conference Brainport 'Global Challenges - Regional Response'

The city of Eindhoven and Brainport kindly invite you to exchange experiences and knowledge at the international conference: “Global Challenges – Regional Response, Regional Innovation Capacities in a Global Perspective”.

Global forces affect places differently, and some centres are better positioned than others. It has been claimed that we live on a ‘flat earth’ where geography is no longer important and where talented individuals across the world compete on a level playing field. But the reality is different. Innovation potential and performance is mainly clustered on a regional scale. What is the position of European regions in this respect? Are their strategies all set for the future, or are they in need of new approaches?

In debates around globalisation the EU economy seems to be reduced to a ‘quantité negligable’ since the main focus lies in the USA and among BRIC countries. Does the EU still have a right to play? How can the EU get its focus right? And what is the role of innovative regions in the EU? How can they drive Europe’s economy and what policies are needed to deliver on their potential? These questions are addressed at an international conference on regional innovation capacity in a globalising economy. 

Regional innovation strategies are contained within EU and national contexts as well as the business contexts of individual companies and institutions. Regions play a pivotal role between these macro and micro levels. Central to the conference is to find an appropriate answer to the question of what scale and role of intervention should be encompassed on different policy levels. Conference results can contribute to the discussions on the Lisbon Strategy beyond 2010 and the future European Cohesion Policy.

Speakers from EU, OECD, national government, regions, science and business will give their views on how regions can retain sustainable competitive advantages in the perspective of a globalising economy.

The following speakers will take part in the programme:

•   Rob van Gijzel, Mayor of Eindhoven, chairman Stichting Brainport

•   Wim van de Donk, Queen’s Commissioner of the Province Noord-Brabant

•   Aart de Geus, Deputy Secretary General OECD

•  Hannu Seristö, vice President of the Aalto University Helsinki

•  Rick Harwig, CTO Royal Philips

•  Robert Jan Smits, Director of Directorate B at DG Research of the European Commission.