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***Apologies for cross-posting*** OPEN DAYS - 12th Week of Regions and Cities<http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/od2014/index.cfm> 6th-9th October 2014, Brussels, Belgium The OPEN DAYS is an annual four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. The event is organised by the EU Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's DG for Regional Policy. This free event will again attract around 6,000 participants and features a variety of sessions, workshops and networking events. As in previous years, the Regional Studies Association<http://www.regionalstudies.org/> (RSA) is involved in the OPEN DAYS and is offering this year four university sessions. Places are going fast so make sure you register as soon as possible. RSA OPEN DAYS University Sessions: Regional Pathways from Welfare to Work: Reflections and International<http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/opendays/od2005/fo/ViewWorkshop.do?doAction=viewWorkshop&previousDoAction=openFOSearchWorkshopsDialog&workshopId=1e2753d9467a17ad0146ce034c98050e&conferenceId=1e2753d942a0982401465b701ae80006> Code 07UNIV01 Active labour market policies have helped to redesign and define our understanding of welfare and work. These have been captured by academic and policy communities through notions of 'workfare', 'welfare-to-work', and 'welfare-through-work'. It is time to take stock of these. This session will examine the various national, regional, and local trajectories that have been emerging during the past decade inside and outside Europe. It will discuss the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, of different measures to move individuals from welfare and into work. This session will also focus on efforts to sustain this through skills training and income-related reforms. Speakers: · Professor Nik Theodore, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA; · Dr. Jo Ingold, University of Leeds, UK; · Professor Espen Dahl, Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway; · Professor Ingo Bode, University of Kassel, Germany; · Dr. Colin Lindsay, Strathclyde University, UK. Chair: Professor Martin Jones, University of Sheffield, UK. Policy Roundtable on "Industrial Policy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive<http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/opendays/od2005/fo/ViewWorkshop.do?doAction=viewWorkshop&previousDoAction=openFOSearchWorkshopsDialog&workshopId=1e2753d9467a17ad0146cdfd656604f9&conferenceId=1e2753d942a0982401465b701ae80006> Code 08UNIV02 If Europe has to change, should that change point in the direction of reducing social inclusion, postponing environmental goals and opting for price/cost-competitiveness? Or rather, should Europe become a role model for a development strategy that enables a socio-ecological transition to high levels of employment, social and regional inclusion, gender equity and environmental sustainability? And if the latter is to be pursued, what should be the key elements of a new model and how should Europe get there? These are the key questions for this Industrial Policy Roundtable. This policy roundtable brings together leading academic experts in industrial policy. Suggested speakers will make short and sharp 10 minute presentations, which will be followed by at least 60 minutes of open debate. Speakers: · Professor Karl Aiginger, Austrian Institute of Economic Research, Austria; · Professor Frank Geels, University of Manchester, UK; · Professor Thomas Sauer, Abbe University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Chair: Professor David Bailey, Aston University, UK. Operationalising Smart Specialisation: Enabling the Entrepreneurial<http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/opendays/od2005/fo/ViewWorkshop.do?doAction=viewWorkshop&previousDoAction=openFOSearchWorkshopsDialog&workshopId=1e2753d9467a17ad0146cdf81e2e04e5&conferenceId=1e2753d942a0982401465b701ae80006> Code 09UNIV02 (fully booked) Understanding and fostering an 'Entrepreneurial Process of Discovery' is at the heart of operationalising smart specialisation, yet there is little experience to help guide regional policy makers. The workshop will analyse this process in four main areas: - The nature of entrepreneurial search in different types of regional innovation systems - How entrepreneurial search runs between industries and across borders - How the process of entrepreneurial search is animated and governed by national and regional authorities - How to ensure a large participation of firms in the search process and avoid capture by vested interest groups The workshop will disseminate early results from the FP7 funded project 'SmartSpec' as well as research activities of the European Commission's S3 Platform, established by DG Regional Policy in 2011 and run by the Joint Research Centre. The combination of theoretical insights and practical experiences aims to further the research agenda around smart specialisation and provide useful material for participants in the Open Days. Speakers: · Dr. Adrian Healy, Cardiff University, UK; · Dr. James Wilson, Orkestra - Basque Institute of Competitiveness, Spain; · Mr. Manuel Palazuelos, European Commission; · Dr. John Edwards, European Commission. Chair: Dr. Xabier Goenaga, European Commission. Building capacity SME's <http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/opendays/od2005/fo/ViewWorkshop.do?doAction=viewWorkshop&previousDoAction=openFOSearchWorkshopsDialog&workshopId=1e2753d9467a17ad0146c845865e039b&conferenceId=1e2753d942a0982401465b701ae80006> Code 09UNIV03 Policy guidelines emerge on how best to support and sustain small firms to achieve their growth ambitions in a range of national and regional settings. The key principles are the need for partnership, for regionalised delivery and the potential value of holistic supports for sustained growth. The workshop will showcase good practice and involve academics, SME owner-managers and other stakeholder organisations. The nature and scope of SME support under Horizon 2020 and COSME will be an important context for our discussions, especially as we seek to build sustainable growth in SMEs through competitiveness and innovation. Speakers: · Professor Erik Stam, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; · Mrs. Marlene Haugaard, Væksthus Hovedstadsregionen, Denmark; · Mr. Adam Whitehouse, TMT First Ltd, UK; · Professor Mark Hart, Aston Business School, UK. Chair: Professor Mark Hart, Aston Business School, UK. The OPEN DAYS event is free of charge but places are limited. To register, please go to http://bit.ly/1rjbiwn. Best wishes and we hope to see you there. Daniela Daniela Carl Development Manager Regional Studies Association 25 Clinton Place Seaford BN25 1NP tel: +44 (0) 1323 899 698 www.regionalstudies.org<http://www.regionalstudies.org/>