East Netherlands recognized as European Regional Innovation Valley
The European Commission has designated the East Netherlands region as a Regional Innovation Valley under the New European Innovation Agenda. This recognition, announced by European Commissioners Iliana Ivanova (Research and Innovation) and Elisa Ferreira (Regional Policy), is based on the innovation agenda of Think East Netherlands, affirming East Netherlands' position as a key innovation partner. This opens the door to new opportunities for further development and European cooperation.
In addition to the strategic collaboration The East of Netherlands has with the German Region Nord Westfalen and executed in the TECH.LAND program https://techland.org The East Netherlands region is now part of a network of 151 innovative regions in Europe. This network collaborates with the European Commission to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and create strong value chains.
Opportunities for the future
Erwin Hoogland, Deputy of the Province of Overijssel, responded with enthusiasm: "The recognition as a Regional Innovation Valley confirms our innovation strength and entrepreneurship. We are now part of a strong European network, enabling us to work together with the business community to address solutions in areas such as digitization, healthcare, and sustainability."
Helga Witjes, Deputy of the Province of Gelderland, also expressed joy: "A great reward for East Netherlands. It facilitates collaboration and thereby the innovative strength of East Netherlands entrepreneurs. This allows them not only to find solutions for the challenges we face in the Netherlands and Europe but also to provide income and jobs. A win-win situation that is good for everyone in East Netherlands."
A step towards a sustainable future
The recognition as a Regional Innovation Valley aligns with the broader goals of the New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA). This agenda focuses on enhancing innovation capacity and competitiveness in Europe through collaboration and investment. It supports regions in addressing challenges such as reducing dependency on fossil fuels, improving food security, digitization, and healthcare. The status provides East Netherlands with the opportunity to grow as an innovation valley where talent and businesses can flourish within a strong ecosystem. The regions of Veluwe, Twente, and Arnhem-Nijmegen have long been recognized for their thriving ecosystems and are among the recently published top 10 regions with strong entrepreneurship ecosystems according to the EE index. The status as a Regional Innovation Valley lays the foundation for future developments and collaborations, both at the European and global levels, and strengthens Europe's competitiveness compared to other world powers such as the United States and China.
Read the European Commission's announcement: Commission funds Regional Innovation Valleys with €116 mil (europa.eu)
Source: Oost NL
Photo: Arek Socha from Pixabay