EREI 2030: STRATEGIES OF THE REGIONAL INNOVATION AND OPERATIONAL COORDINATION PLATFORMS PRESENTED
20 February 2024
On February 19, the Interpretive Center of the Bulwark Fortification of Campo Maior hosted the first meeting of 2024 of the Alentejo Regional Innovation Council (CRIAlt).
The session, which brought together several key actors in the territory, had as its main objective the presentation of the strategies under development within the governance model of the Regional Strategy for Smart Specialization (EREI) inherent to its Operational Coordination, ensured in partnership by CCDR and PACT – Alentejo Science and Technology Park, and each of the Regional Innovation Platforms, which saw their collaboration protocols signed in September 2023 (Platform for the promotion of Sustainability and Territorial Cohesion (PlaSuCT), Platform for the strengthening of Regional Production Chains (PlaCaPRe) and Platform for the promotion of the Qualification of Regional Human Resources (PlaQuaR)).
The opening session had the significant contributions of Luís Rosinha, Mayor of Campo Maior, Aníbal Reis Costa, Vice-President of the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), and Tiago Teotónio Pereira, Executive Member of the Management Committee of the Alentejo Regional Operational Program Management Authority, who indicated that the governance model of EREI Alentejo presents a high degree of innovation in the operationalization and monitoring of regional strategies at international level, and is being studied at European Union level.
This was followed by the presentations of the four strategic visions for the implementation of EREI, communicated by the Coordinator or Co-Coordinator of each of the Innovation Platforms and by PACT, represented by João Assunção, as responsible (together with the Regional Dynamics Monitoring Body) for the Operational Coordination of the Strategy.
The strategy associated with the Platform for the promotion of Sustainability and Territorial Cohesion (PlaSuCT) was presented by the coordinator ADRAL – Alentejo Regional Development Agency, represented by Anabela Caeiro; in turn, the strategy associated with the Platform for the strengthening of Regional Production Chains (PlaCaPRe) was presented by the co-coordinator of the Portugal Mineral Resources Cluster Association, represented by Marta Peres; finally, the Platform for the promotion of the Qualification of Regional Human Resources (PlaQuaR) was presented by the coordinator of the University of Évora, represented by Paulo Quaresma.
The strategies recognize the relevance of actively involving regional stakeholders in a bottom-up model to identify opportunities and challenges that will guide the implementation of the EREI2030, as well as its monitoring.
The session served its purpose of allowing joint reflection between the dimensions of Planning, Operational and Operational Coordination through the Regional Innovation Platforms and the members of the Regional Innovation Council, regarding the strategic vision of governance of the EREI2030 with a view to its better pursuit.
