BORDWIIS+: Boosting regional development through ICT innovation strategies

ICT development is so rapid and far-reaching that regional policies and strategies are often outdated compared with the challenges and opportunities it creates. BORDWIIS+ addressed the need of regional policymakers for a clear, up-to-date assessment, as well as adaptable plans to develop, evaluate, and modify their ICT innovation policies.

The objectives of the project were:

• To equip European regions with the knowledge needed to start and develop a smart specialization process in the most relevant areas of ICT-based innovation.
• To preserve and boost ICT innovation strategies that had already proven successful.
• To exchange experiences and knowledge among the participating regions.

BORDWIIS+ was built around the following pillars:

• Regional assessment: preparation of comparative ICT inventories based on regional strengths in business and research and development.
• Dialogue among stakeholders: ongoing exchange among regional leaders, public policy officials, and businesses to analyze approaches, strengths, needs, and weaknesses.
• Implementation plans: development of concrete plans to boost regional development and identify opportunities for interregional cooperation.

IDEPA coordinated the consortium, made up of ten partners from eight European regions: IDEPA itself and CTIC (Spain), the Regional Council of Lorraine and the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology, INRIA (France), the Tuscany Region (Italy), Tartu Science Park (Estonia), the IFKA Public Benefit Non-profit Ltd. for the Development of the Industry (Hungary), the South-East Regional Development Agency (Romania), the University of Wuppertal (Germany), and Lund University (Sweden). CTIC contributed its ICT expertise to the analysis and definition of the innovation strategy of the Asturian region.