RAPIDE in Action Conference in Brussels
DG REGIO and the RAPIDE network recently combined forces to organise a conference on 24 March 2010. Its purpose was to ensure the engagement of all regional and European stakeholders in the implementation of the future RAPIDE Action Plans. It was the first time that all regional Managing Authorities and DG REGIO geographical units met together with the 13 regional RAPIDE managers. The Commission’s direct involvement in RAPIDE gave partners a unique opportunity to develop a true dialogue between the European Commission and the respective regional players, including the South West Regional Development Agency.
The following innovative RAPIDE Actions were discussed and will be implemented by the RAPIDE network partners:
1. Innovation Voucher Schemes
RAPIDE has set up a working group with experts from all around Europe including DG ENTR and is mainstreaming the current best practices to the RAPIDE partner regions.
2. Pre-Commercial Procurement projects (PCP)
RAPIDE took up the challenge to implement a new and very promising idea examining how the public sector can promote regional innovation.
3. Business Angel Networks
RAPIDE is supported by the EBAN (European Business Angel Network) and Europe INNOVA which explore how to stimulate regional BA networks.
4. Assessment tool for start-ups in incubators
RAPIDE is addressing with a new assessment tool for incubated enterprises the need to improve the quality and success rate of supported companies.
5. Pitching tool to bring innovators to investors
It is a proven fact that there is no culture of pitching amongst innovators in Europe. Furthermore, the first access to public funding is always via written application forms. The target is that future first contacts with Business Angels and public funding schemes should be via standardised online pitching slots to bring innovation to the market faster!
This was the first conference of this kind to exclusively concentrate on an INTERREG IV C project and once again shows that RAPIDE is at the forefront of all European projects.
