Regional innovation strategy (RIS LITHUANIA - INNPULSE)

Since June 2005 Lithuanian Innovation Centre is implementing the project RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE, which purpose is to prepare a regional innovation strategy for Vilnius, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Telšiai counties (INNPULSE region)  and consolidate provisions of existing similar programs. Also this strategy will harmonize and distinguish the most important needs of public, business, business support and science institutions. Main RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE project objectives are: to develop a competitive regional innovation strategy and indicate the main direction of innovation development; to formulate a regional innovation strategy as a key element of EU Structural Funds programs in Lithuania; to establish a sustainable regional partnership on innovation; to contribute to the development of innovation support infrastructure; to increase quality of innovation in the region by establishing mechanisms for sustainable cooperation with other European countries.                  Project duration: 32 months (since June 2005) The implementation of RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE project will take 32 months and is divided into three stages: Consensus building stage. During this stage the management and supervision structure will be formed (Project Management Unit, Steering Committee, working groups). Also the consensus on main priorities will be built among all major stakeholders – public, business, business support and science institutions. Analysis stage. Needed data and information will be gathered and analyzed, needs of groups concerned identified and analyzed. Co-operation of stakeholders will be continued by coordinating their interests. Strategy definition stage. Regional innovation strategy and its evaluation, monitoring and implementation mechanisms will be developed during this stage, as well as pilot projects, in accordance with established regional priorities. Project consortium: Project coordinator – Lithuanian Innovation Centre  Project partners: -  Lithuanian Industrialists Confederation – a non-political organization uniting banks, business companies and learning centers; - Knowldege Economy Forum – an association of Lithuanian firms, scholars and politicians for stimulation of knowledge economy; - Province of Milan - Local government Authority of the Province of Milan; - Strathclyde European Partnership – one of the main executives of the European Funds Programmes in the Western Scotland region. Regional innovation strategy in the framework of the project RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE will be created for Vilnius, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai and Telšiai counties – the North and East Lithuanian region (INNPULSE region). In other five counties regional innovation strategy will be created in the framework of the project RIS Lithuania, coordinated by Kaunas Technological University Regional Business Incubator. Contacts: Marius Ramanauskas RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE Project Consultant Tel. +370 5 2356116 Email m.ramanauskaslic.lt Algis Davidavičius RIS LITHUANIA – INNPULSE Project Consultant Mob. +370 610 06 699 Email a.davidaviciuslic.lt