The online matchmaking event aims at creating opportunities for participants to meet and connect with a view of either responding to the call for expression interest to become a Regional Innovation Valley or finding partners for prospective applications to calls launched under the EIE and I3 instruments.
The matchmaking event will facilitate networking around the five burning challenges identified by the New European Innovation Agenda, namely, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing global food security, mastering the digital transformation (including cybersecurity), improving healthcare and achieving circularity.
The event will include:
- A panel session, featuring speakers from the Commission and a few regions aiming to engage actively in the consortiums, and
- 5 breakout thematic sessions, one per grand challenge, hosted by the representatives of thematic Units from DG RTD in charge of the grand challenges.
The event represents a unique opportunity for the interested stakeholders:
- to get information on the EIE and I3 RIV Calls,
- discuss their interest to become regional innovation valleys,
- work together based, but not limited, on their smart specialisation strategies, meeting specific local challenges and needs, whilst contributing to the Union’s strategic priorities,
- connect with potential RIV partners a month ahead of the closing date (17 October) and/or explore other long-term collaboration opportunities. It represents an occasion to get information about what others are doing in the specific fields, seek partners to complete the set-up of consortiums, manifest interest in joining or forming consortia, and to find potential partners with whom to set-up a joint action plan to interconnect territories around the specific areas of common interest.