Addressing the Committee of the Regions Plenary Session on 9 July, Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation made a pledge to "use research and innovation to build cities as nature would have them and as citizens would imagine them." His speech was also an occasion to launch the Second European Capital of Innovation Award: "Today we're launching an Award to celebrate the European cities empowering all citizens, to participate in defining the present and future of their urban landscape, through an open innovation ecosystem" he said.
Welcoming the initiative, Alin Adrian Nica stressed that there needs to be specific support for entrepreneurs, SMEs and startups in Europe because they are essential to creating an innovation ecosystem. This was supported by Christian Buchmann who said: "As the Minister of Economy for Styria, an region in southern Austria, I am convinced that the close coordination between the relevant stakeholders in the regions - from innovative leading companies and SMEs to universities, research institutes and Start Up Facilitators - is crucial if Europe wants to make an innovative step forward."
Turning to the financial support that is available for regions and cities to invest in research and innovation, the Commissioner said: "Both Commissioner Crețu and I want to get Horizon 2020 and the European Structural and Investment Funds working in tandem, so your regions have more opportunities to foster home-grown talent and ideas!"
• OPEN DAYS seminar on Cities of the Future (code 14C12)
• Study Visit on digital and entrepreneurial skills