AGENEX has presented FINERPOL project at RIS3 Extremadura Forum 2016, an event organized by the Regional Government of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura) along with FUNDECYT-PCTEx and the Innovation Office, whose aim was to create a participative forum with conferences on R&D funding, new trends on green economy and innovation, workshops and bilateral meetings between companies and research centres to boost competitiveness.
RIS3 Extremadura Forum 2016, which took place on 10 November 2016 at the Jesús Inosión Minimal Invasion Surgery Centre in Cáceres, had the intention of assessing the current situation and expectations for the future in terms of innovation, research and development in Extremadura, through the experience provided by companies and entrepreneurs, researchers, scholars and regional key players in innovation.
The inauguration ceremony was led by José Luis Navarro, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure of the Regional Government of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura), and Jesús Alonso, General Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Along the day, different matters identified as priorities in the Extremadura Intelligent Specialization Strategy were addressed: key sectors for the growth of the region and related to the green economy such as agri-food sector, clean energy, tourism, health and information and communication technologies.
Moreover, international experts from the European Commission stated the importance of innovation for less developed regions and discussed issues such as the green economy and its potential in Extremadura, the possibilities of growth based on the region's assets or its challenges and competitive advantages.
Besides, companies were allowed to participate in bilateral meetings to express their challenges and needs, and to try and find possible business associations or solutions through the knowledge exchange with the Extremadura scientific community. As well as, several workshops were held to analyse European funding possibilities for Extremadura Business and the design of new tools to support business innovation.
In this environment, AGENEX presented the European project FINERPOL, whose main objective is to design a complex financial instrument for the energy rehabilitation of buildings. This financial instrument would channel structural funds, private funds, European Investment Bank funds and funds from the Juncker Plan that will revitalise Extremadura Energy Rehabilitation sector in the coming years.
