Regional Strategies and Innovation

Whether managing director, mayor, cluster manager, university rector or leading government official – the sustainable success of their decisions strongly depends on recognising the most important future challenges and trends, and using this knowledge as a competitive advantage. Only those, who already today concern themselves with future perspectives and the possible impacts of relevant developments can take precautions in due time. Thereby, the long-term thinking and planning should consider both, own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the global scientific-technological and political key developments. In addition, the implementation of strategies cannot be optimised without comprehensive knowledge of appropriate regional, national and European funding schemes.

Especially in the field of research, technological development and innovation (RTDI), which is subject to uncertainty and "disruptive" developments, strategic policy and management instruments such as foresight and technology assessment can help improve all investment decisions and supplement favourably conventional supporting measures. Therefore this aspect has gained a particular attention within the work of SEZ.