Yorkshire Science

Yorkshire Science Promoting the Region at European Assembly

Yorkshire Science delegates attended the OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities (9 - 12 October 2006) in Brussels recently.

Amidst a bustling schedule of debates and deliberations, Dr Ceri Williams, Senior Manager for Science & Innovation at Yorkshire Forward, presented an outline of strategic choices and key issues for Yorkshire and the Humber, before an international audience.

Dr Williams made the case for competitiveness and sustainability on a regional level, highlighting the importance of preserving natural resources for the future of the planet, and outlining the crucial role regions have to play in creating a culture for new technologies to support sustainability.

Before an international audience of delegates from across Europe, Dr Williams presented the experiences of the Yorkshire and Humber region and illustrated the four main pillars of the draft regional innovation strategy.

The OPEN DAYS event, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General, brought together representatives from more than 130 European regions.

Featuring 115 workshops the Brussels programme involved over 600 speakers from over 30 countries. A record number of 15,000 delegates from across Europe attend this increasingly important annual event.

The Yorkshire Science team went along to tackle different areas of activity and interest, seeking out good practice and connecting with other innovative regions.

Dr Williams said: "The event provided a great opportunity to meet up with other European nations to find suitable partners for future collaborative projects. One of the main pillars of the regional innovation strategy is for improved European relationships. The Open Days event was an excellent vehicle to network with our European peers and look for examples of best practice that we can share and transfer.

"We were able to make some useful and interesting connections during the Open Days and it was good to be able to promote some of the work we are already doing here in Yorkshire and the Humber."