Conference on regional growth to be held at NUI Galway

National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway will play host to a major conference on the contribution of regional innovation to regional and national economic development on Friday, 4th November

The Midland and Western (BMW) Regional Assembly and the Centre for Innovation and Structural Change (CISC) at NUI Galway are the hosts of the conference, entitled 'Regional Innovation - A Catalyst for Sustainable Economic Growth in the BMW Region'.

It will address how the BMW region can build on its knowledge-based capabilities to stimulate growth and employment in high value sectors. It will focus upon demonstrating why the Irish Government needs to support regions differently, as stated by the OECD in May 2011 "regions are not countries and (governments) cannot simply replicate national policies at a regional scale".

The conference will be of interest to key policy makers, enterprise agencies, academic researchers and industry representatives who wish to engage with the issue of creating an effective regional innovation system.

Research recently carried out by the BMW Regional Assembly and by CISC at NUI Galway on regional innovation and competitiveness will be presented at the event. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Gerhard Fuchs, University of Stuttgart, who is an international expert on regional innovation systems. Peter Reilly, research and development Director at Valeo Vision Systems, will provide an industry perspective on academic business linkages. Valeo Vision Systems is one of the world's leading manufacturers of automotive vision systems, with a base in Tuam, Co Galway.

The outcomes of a major study completed this year by the BMW Regional Assembly on the innovation performance of the BMW Region will be presented by Dr Kieran Moylan. The report 'An Audit of Innovation in the BMW Region: An Evaluation of a Regional Knowledge Economy' sets out the key challenges and opportunities for job creation and economic growth in a range of emerging high-value economic sectors.  

Speaking in advance of the conference, Dr James Browne, president of NUI Galway, said: "The west of Ireland region has unique advantages which offer rich potential. Recent work carried out by researchers at CISC highlights the innate competencies of the region and points out how a focus on creative and innovative pursuits has the potential for significant jobs growth in the region. This is a timely conference that will help us better define our own path towards economic and social sustainability." 

The conference takes place in the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway on Friday, 4th November and further information is available by clicking here.