The Baltic Institute of Finland was appointed as the new coordinator of the Policy Area Innovation in the EUSBSR National Coordinators' meeting in Copenhagen September 26 2018.

The EUSBSR Communication Point had a chance to interview the new PA Innovation Coordinator Esa Kokkonen about the appointment and future plans.

 

What does the appointment as EUSBSR PA Innovation Coordinator mean to you?

This is an important acknowledgement for Baltic Institute of Finland and for its long-time and active work for innovation cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. We feel privileged and grateful for this opportunity and important EUSBSR task, as we have actively contributed to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and its flagship projects since the initiation of the strategy in the European Parliament in 2005.

 

What are your next steps from here as a new coordinator?

In 2018-2020, a special focus of PA INNO activities will be on regional innovation ecosystems and smart specialization, digitalization related research cooperation, kickstart activities e.g. on real-time economy concept and talent management, as well as on related capacity building. New areas and topics of innovation cooperation are identified and supported on a process basis. The activities are based on the PA INNO Strategy Guide 2016-2020. Cooperation with other Policy Areas will be also emphasized, as well as exchange with other EU macro-regional strategies. Various PA INNO events will be organized already in Autumn 2018, e.g. on capacity building and smart specialization.  

 

After this appointment, PA Innovation is now coordinated by Reet Reismaa (left), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in Estonia, Esa Kokkonen, The Baltic Institute of Finland and Tomasz Jalukowicz, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland.

 

Read also about the appointment on the Baltic Institute of Finland website.