Bringing European regions faster to the knowledge-based economy.
The "Regions of knowledge" pilot action, introduced in the 2003 Community budget as a "pilot-project" by the European Parliament (Information in French), aims to support experimental actions at regional level to develop 'regions of knowledge' in the area of technological development, co- operation between universities, and research at a regional level and stimulate the integration of regions in Europe. Such actions should strengthen the regions' involvement and commitment towards the creation of the European Research Area as well as supporting the achievement of the Lisbon goals and the Barcelona objective (towards a higher investment in RTD with the target being 3% of the Union's GDP by 2010, with 2/3 of the GERD coming from the private sector).
The main aim of the action is to demonstrate the central role of knowledge in driving regional development and how regional actors' can effectively participate in formulating their regions' future. This could lead to identifying models for further development activities, which need not be funded necessarily by the Union's budget. Another objective is to increase collaboration on a transnational / transregional basis to enable learning between European regions and the identification of models and activities that can be implemented in different regions. The indicative budget for this activity, as earmarked in the Community's budget for 2003 is EUR 2,5 Million.
Read more about the "Regions of Knowledge" (KnowREG) Pilot Action
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