The nine European ORs - the Azores, the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, La Réunion, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint Martin – are traditionally considered through the "handicap lense". Yet their singularities constitute opportunities to develop solutions that address major local, European and global challenges such as biodiversity conservation and restauration, climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy transition, circular economy. To accompany this paradigm shift, and turn themselves into European research and innovation "outposts" in their regional basins and build competitive advantages, these territories need to reach critical masses; notably through an increased cooperation with European stakeholders. Yet this integration and the participation to the Research and Innovation Framework Programmes, remain inhibited by several constraints. In response, the 9 OR are currently implementing an Horizon 2020 project - FORWARD. This conference will present the state of play of the Outermost Regions participation in Horizon 2020 as well as an analysis of the determinants which hinders such participation. Il will also provide insights and recommendations to support the development of their regional innovation system and their participation in Horizon Europe, with a special focus on public policies and the actualisation of the synergy of funds principle.

Program :

12.00-12.20 Challenges & objectives of the FORWARD project - Michelle Perello, Government of the Canary

12.20-12.40 State of play of the OR participation in FP - Philippe Holstein, Nexa, regional agency for development and innovation of Reunion Island

12.40-13.00 Questions

Registration :

The link to the event is the following https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fostering-excellence-research-in-outermost-regions-the-forward-project-tickets-73947628347 . Please note that to be able to access the premises you will need to have a badge from Regio week and therefore if you have not register yet to the regio week Event please follow this link : https://europa.eu/regions-and-cities/