WIRE 2024: Regions as catalysts of European RDI competitiveness - the role of regions in the reduction of fragmentation in the European innovation ecosystem

WIRE 2024: Regions as catalysts of European RDI competitiveness - the role of regions in the reduction of fragmentation in the European innovation ecosystem

The Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE) conference serves as the main European policy forum dedicated to innovation and regional development. The conference provides a platform for policymakers, public authorities, knowledge centres and enterprises to discuss research and innovation practices, challenges and opportunities across the European regions, with a direct view on the current and future EU funding opportunities.

This year's edition of WIRE will take place on 13-14 November 2024 in Budapest under the theme “Regions as catalysts of European RDI competitiveness - the role of regions in the reduction of fragmentation in the European innovation ecosystem”.

The event is organised by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office in Budapest, under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will bring together key players from the innovation and education ecosystems to enhance science-based competitiveness. The conference will focus on knowledge-driven regional development and propose ways to optimize resource allocation for this purpose.

This year’s conference theme aligns with one of the priorities of the Hungarian presidency and is crucial for the European Union’s competitiveness in the coming years. Discussions will contribute to analysing the current state, identifying challenges, and sharing best practices. The programme will explore various initiatives, concepts, and tools introduced by the European Union, such as the Smart Specialisation concept, Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, the Partnerships for Regional Innovation pilot, and Regional Innovation Valleys. To provide a comprehensive and detailed overview, speakers will evaluate the effectiveness of these tools, present successful practices, and highlight synergies between European and regional funding schemes. The event has a strong focus on access to excellence, aligning with ERRIN's network priority of widening and deepening engagement in R&I.

ERRIN is part of the Steering Committee of the WIRE Conference. Director Pirita Lindholm will also speak during the event alongside colleagues from network membership and Secretariat. 

Learn more, find the agenda and register by Friday 8 November 12:00 CET (noon) on the official WIRE 2024 conference webpage here.