EREI 2030: protocols of the Innovation Platforms and partnership between PACT and CCDR-A signed
20 September 2023
Last Friday, September 15th, a meeting of the Regional Innovation Council (CRIAlt) was held, which aimed to present the status of the governance model and monitoring system for monitoring the Regional Strategy for Smart Specialization (EREI 2030).
The session was a forum for strategic reflection and included the signing of the protocols regarding the 3 Innovation Platforms, which are the central instrument for boosting the EREI2030. In addition, an agreement was also signed regarding the cross-partnership between CCDR Alentejo, as the entity responsible for the Regional Dynamics Monitoring Body (OADR), and PACT, in the dimension of operational coordination and monitoring of regional innovation platforms. The agreement aims to ensure the correct and adequate monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of the regional innovation platforms of the EREI2030, and thus contribute to a better implementation of the EREI in the territory.
The event, which was coordinated by CCDR-A, was attended by Ceia da Silva, President of CCDR-A, and Carmen Carvalheira, Vice-President. In his speech, Ceia da Silva stressed that “the EREI should not only be used for consultation, but applied on the ground”.
In his speech, Soumodip Sarkar stated that “this moment represents an essential step towards the strategic development of the region, formalizing the will and need to develop skills for smart specialization, through collaboration and cooperation between regional agents”. The Executive President of PACT added that “it is essential to boost the key agents of the territory for the implementation on the ground of regional priorities and territorial and cross-border cooperation, which highlights the relevance of the formalization of these protocols”.
The meeting was also attended by Tiago Teotónio Pereira, Executive Member of CCDR-A, who recognized the existence of failures in the past in terms of innovation monitoring and sees in this protocol a sign of commitment in this direction. Considering the region and its potential as one of the topics on the agenda, the Member also said that “the Alentejo is the first region to invest funds in entrepreneurial discovery and monitoring”.
The session was also attended by several regional agents, as well as the contributions of MEP Carlos Zorrinho, ambassador of EREI 2030 and CRI, and Alexandra Vilela, Executive Member of the Board of Directors of ANI, who were available to actively collaborate in the implementation of EREI.
