Launch conference

The “Play your part!” launch conference for Synergien.NRW took place on 28 October 2020. The conference was broadcasted (in German language) via live stream.

Among others, the dovetailed use of the European programme Horizon Europe (until 2021 Horizon 2020) and the European Structural and Investment Funds plays an important role for North Rhine-Westphalia in the successful support of innovation along the entire value chain from research to market introduction.

“Healthy Living and Sustainable Energy” are priority themes in the new three-year Synergien.NRW project, which aims to foster synergy building in the three innovation fields “Health”, “Food” and “Energy”.

The launch conference started with an overview by the European Commission regarding how the topic of synergies is integrated in the new EU funding programmes and also outlined initial approaches with which programme planners and research and innovation stakeholders in North Rhine-Westphalia can make better use of synergy potential. In addition, North Rhine-Westphalian cluster managers reflected on their first impressions regarding the project.

In the second part of the conference, a good practice example showed how the combination of various funding programmes can successfully boost technological change in a region.

Finally,  the delegates were invited to join in a panel discussion with political representatives of the European Commission, the ministries involved as well as a cluster manager to debate on the topic of “How can we take a strategic approach to the three innovation fields ‘Health’, ‘Food’ and ‘Energy’ in North Rhine-Westphalia?”