We are pleased to invite you to two webinars examining the ways in which multi-stakeholder approaches help build more innovative societies.

To build innovative and creative societies, it is necessary to work both at a system level to improve innovation ecosystems and at an individual level to encourage young people from diverse backgrounds to participate in society. The events are part of the Skillnet webinar series organised by the AER, which provides an opportunity for mutual learning around topics identified by AER members.

Creating Effective Innovation Ecosystems

An innovation ecosystem describes the complex set of relationships among very diverse actors and entities, which work for technology development and innovation in a territory. Amongst others, this includes the material resources and human capital of universities, colleges of engineering, business schools, business firms, venture capitalists, industry-university research institutes, state or regional economic development agencies and chambers of commerce, funding agencies and policymakers.

Connectedness, Competence and Talent, and Capital are identified as issues of major importance by the European Commission’s Report on the 2020 stakeholder consultation “A Robust Innovation Ecosystem for the Future of Europe”. This webinar will look at the elements which make for an effective innovation ecosystem. In particular, it will examine how regional ecosystems involve different levels of education, specifically whether technical and vocational education and training stakeholders are involved or how they can be involved further.

Agenda

Creating Effective Innovation Ecosystems

19 April 2021 at 10:00 CET

• 10.00-10.05 – Housekeeping rules, quick presentation on Skillnet, Valentina De Vico, Communication Manager, Skillman Team
• 10:05-10:10 – Opening remarks and introduction to the webinar, Sandra Evans, Project Coordinator, Universität Tübingen
• 10:10 – 10:25  The skills for innovation and how to boost them, Arnault Morisson, Thematic Expert Research and Innovation, Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform Presentation here
• 10:25 – 10:35 The benefits of interregional cooperation to boost innovation ecosystems, Agneta Kardos, Timiș County Council Presentation here
• 10:35 – 10:45 The experience of Upper Austria in the energy transition, Christiane Egger, Deputy Manager, Energy Agency of Upper Austria Presentation here
• 10.45-10.55 – Panel discussion and Q&A session
• 10.55-11.00 – Closing remarks

Recording of the webinar here: https://youtu.be/fGKvGkowX7Y

Technical Vocational Education & Training and Civic Participation

Civic participation is a process in which people take collective action to address issues of public concern and can adopt many forms: from individual volunteering, community engagement efforts and organisational involvement to governmental support. With regard to governments, effectively engaging with stakeholders translates into better services, source ideas and knowledge, co-creation solutions and seizing new opportunities.

To achieve high-quality civic participation, it is however crucial to make sure to involve all regional stakeholders. Research shows there is a large participation gap between college students and other young people. Thus, this webinar will look at the factors that can improve the civic participation of people in technical and vocational education and training, and how such multi-stakeholder strategies benefit regions.

Agenda

Technical Vocational Education & Training and Civic Participation

20 April 2021 at 10:00 CET

• 10.00-10.05 – Housekeeping rules and quick presentation of the Skillnet project, Valentina De Vico, Communication Manager, Skillman Team
• 10.05-10.10 – Opening remarks, Alessandra Zedda, AER Vice President for Employment and Skills and Councillor at Sardinia Region (IT)
• 10.10-10.20 – Civic competences and lifelong learning, Andrei Frank, Policy Officer SOLIDAR Foundation Presentation here
• 10.20-10.30 – Regional experience from Nordland (NO), Simon Johnson, AER Chair of the Working Group on Education and Training, Acting Mayor of Nordland County Council Presentation here
• 10.30-10.40 – Building the TVET voice through the Peer Learning Clubs, Maria Elena Romanini, Project Manager, Skillman Secretariat Presentation here
• 10.40-10.55 – Panel discussion and Q&A session
• 10.55-11.00 – Closing remarks

Recording of the webinar: https://youtu.be/gRXRvHq4Fjo

This webinar is organised as part of the SKILLNET series of webinars on EU funding opportunities. SKILLNET is a project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission aiming to strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s role and capacity to design high-quality VET programmes tailored to current societal needs through enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships.