With the support of the European Commission, Regions of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Itä-Uusimaa, and the
Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) are organising a seminar on 16 and 17 September
2010, on the current impact of EU innovation and research policies (EU Regional Policy, Framework
Programme for Research and Technological Development, Competitiveness and Innovation Programme,
State Aid Regulations) in Regions of the Baltic Sea Area, and on their future after 2013.

Innovation and research are among the key strands of both the EU2020 strategy and the EU Strategy for the
Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). They are also today at the heart of EU regional policy, and are covered by a large set of EU programmes, as well as by specific EU regulations on State Aid regulations. They are also at the heart of national and regional policies implemented in the Baltic Sea Area. 3 years after the beginning of the 2007-2013 programming period, it is now time to have a debate on the impact that these EU instruments have today in the Regions of the Baltic Sea Area, and to launch a debate on their future. In order to have the best contribution possible to the development of Regions of the Baltic Sea Area, and taking into account the key orientations set in the EU2020 and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), to which extent should the next generation of EU instruments be based on the existing ones?

In this context, the Lahti seminar aims to:

Show the impact that EU Innovation and Research policies, in particular the EU Regional policy, have
today in the Regions of the Baltic Sea Area and stimulate the debate on the future of these policies
after 2013. Discussions will address the issue of EU policy impact and future in parallel with an
analysis of the current functioning of national and regional innovation and research systems in the
Baltic Area.

Specifically address the issue of the Regions as regional authorities and the role they could have as
key partners in the design and implementation of the next generation of EU and national instruments
which will support the implementation of the innovation and research strands of EU2020 and of the
EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).

Encourage practical exchanges of knowledge and experiences between public authorities and
stakeholders managing EU innovation and research policies or benefiting from them.

A poster exhibition will be organised in parallel with the conference.