InnoHEIs (Improving Research and Innovation Infrastructure Performance: from Fragmented to Integrated and Sustainable Cooperation) seeks to expand the role of higher education and their research and innovation infrastructure. How can they act as key actors for regional innovation development? The aim of the project is to create better conditions for regional actors, industry and academia to interact based on local challenges. This will be done by drawing lessons from other European actors.
Luc Hultsman from the University of Groningen gave a lecture on his work on the Northern Netherlands' smart specialisation strategy, where improvements to the innovation ecosystem are a key theme.
It was interesting to learn more about the Dutch way of working, where academia, industry and government create a common vision and then try to implement it, says Karin Nygård-Skalman, project manager for InnoHEIs at Mid Sweden University.
Nathalie Boulanger, an expert on smart specialisation strategies, presented good examples from their work in the Val de Loire region in France. Nathalie also talked about their governance and management system.
