Fourth Pilsen Region - Upper Palatinate Partnership Forum discusses innovation

25. February 2014 15:42, aktualizováno 03. March 2014 10:13, Milada Soukupová

Fourth Pilsen Region - Upper Palatinate Partnership Forum discusses innovation

Fourth Pilsen Region - Upper Palatinate Partnership Forum discusses innovation

  • District President of the Upper Palatinate Brigitta Brunner and Pilsen Region Vice President for Regional Development, EU Funds and Information Technology Ivo Grüner signed a document on 5 November 2013, declaring it the common will of both regions to propose innovation and research strategies together with specialists and promote the region as an interesting cross-border space for innovation and research with many companies based in the area. The signing of the declaration represented the culmination of the Fourth Partnership Forum of Pilsen Region and Upper Palatinate – European Neighbours, which was held in Chodová Planá on 4 – 5 November. The topic that served as the common thread for the speakers’ papers and the entire forum was Innovation and Economic Growth.

  • The first day of the forum featured papers delivered by Vice Chancellor Jaroslav Dokoupil of the University of West Bohemia (ZČU) and Regional Development Agency of the Pilsen Region Director Filip Uhlík. ZČU’s Deputy Director for External Affairs Luděk Hynčík presented the New Technology research centre at ZČU, and the operations and work of the Pilsen Science and Technology Park was reviewed by Development Manager Jan Černý.
  • The second lecture block was devoted to institutions and companies in Bavaria. The head of the Grammer factory in Tachov, Martin Kořínek, spoke about how the factory was increasing its competiveness. A model project for educating skilled labour in the border area was the subject of a paper delivered by Helmut Schweiger, Sales Director of Gerresheimer. Representatives of Amberg-Weiden University of Applied Sciences and Caroline Leisslová from the Regensburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce also spoke during the second block.
  • The forum continued on day two with management group meetings. “Group members are passing on their experiences. As a result, each group is gaining new initiatives and ideas that they are developing further,” explains Brigitta Brunner, District President of the Upper Palatinate. Representatives of the management groups presented joint topics they were currently working on together at the forum. The tourism working group introduced projects such as a cross-border bike path with signage in Czech and German; in the field of education, collaboration is being initiated through school partnerships and joint projects focused on school dining services. The healthcare management group is discussing collaboration between emergency medical services on both sides of the border. The environmental, transportation, economy, culture and other groups are working together similarly.
  • “Regions that make use of innovation achieve growth more easily and enjoy more rapid development. It is beneficial for us to go down the same path together, which we have started to do. To make it in the globalised world we need to connect science and the economy as well as policy and local government,” Brigitta Brunner explains in response to why innovation was the central topic. “We don’t want to manufacture the cheapest products; together we want to be a region that is a source of truly innovative, cutting-edge products,” the District President of the Upper Palatinate adds.
  • Vice President of the Pilsen Region for Regional Development, EU Funds and Information Technology Ivo Grüner says innovation represents a way in which people’s lives may be improved, especially in regard to securing an adequate number of jobs.
  • “We are preparing an innovation voucher programme for companies that will collaborate with our research institutions, whether public universities or private research enterprises. Through this we want to incentivise small and mid-sized companies to gain experience in innovation and contribute to the region’s development,” stated Vice President of the Pilsen Region for Regional Development, EU Funds and Information Technology Ivo Grüner.
  • The autumn forum closed with the signing of a final declaration stating that Pilsen Region and the Upper Palatinate want to collaborate in research and innovation, propose innovation and research strategies in cooperation with specialists, and promote the region as an interesting cross-border space for innovation and research with many companies based in the area. Officials from both regions also declare their interest in collaborating in the field of economics and management, supporting cross-border contacts between companies, creating new jobs and increasing the competitiveness of both regions.

 


Ivo Grüner and Brigitta Brunner signing the joint declaration