WORKSHOP ON RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IN “REGIONS OF KNOWLEDGE”

On November 29th, 2013 Ms. Antonia Lorenzo participated in a thematic workshop on resource efficiency, which consisted in a “Regions of knowledge” projects capitalization exercise. This workshop addressed issues of sustainability, policy support and future funding opportunities for research intensive clusters in the wider areas of resource efficiency.

The first aim of the workshop was to facilitate community building across projects through the exchange of best practices for innovation in the participating research intensive clusters, as well as the identification of issues of common interest. Twelve “Regions of Knowledge” projects focusing on resource efficiency are being funded since 2012 and 2013 for a period of three years.

The coordinators of those projects were invited to give a brief thematic presentation as a case study on the approach that their respective project has adopted on sustainability and their pathways of implementing smart specialisation strategies (RIS3) in regional clusters, as well as to consider key issues of common interest. In this way, Ms. Lorenzo made a presentation on SuWaNu project regarding its objectives, approaches and how the project getting closer to Andalusian Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation Smart Strategy – RIS3.

Based on the broad geographical coverage of participating projects across the European Research Area and their diverse range of core themes water, waste, green energy, etc. the workshop featured a facilitated discussion which sought to identify cross-cutting issues and emerging themes.