UNU-MERIT manages a European Techno-Economic Policy Support Network (ETEPS) project team that is conducting a grand-scale survey to calculate the level of research, technology, innovation (RTI) and cohesion in regions of the European Union (EU).

The European Commission Directorate General for Regional Policy is seeking to integrate RTI prominently into its regional policy, which aims at reducing the disparities between EU regions.

Project leader Dr. René Wintjes

The main purpose of the project is to improve our understanding of the relation between the shift towards a knowledge-based economy and regional disparities in Europe. It will try to answer such questions as “What could be the situation 20 years from now?” and “What are the policy implications for today?”.

According to UNU-MERIT project leader René Wintjes, this survey will deliver information about the specific situation and future prospects of EU regions. It thus will be the basis for an RTI-focused regional policy strategy, and will be an important input in developing the future Structural Fund Programme of the European Union.

Other UNU-MERIT project members include Hugo Hollanders, Theo Dunnewijk, Bart Verspagen, Claire Nauwelaers and Herman Pijpers.

The project runs until November 2009.