This thematic workshop, entitled Integrating creativity and design into regional innovation policy, was the first of four taking place between 2008 and 2011 as part of the SEE project framework. The workshop had two main objectives: to pool knowledge, share experience, stimulate debate developing new thinking on integrating creativity and design into regional innovation policy; and to establish dialogue between the SEE partners and their regional policy-makers to strengthen the links between innovation and design in order to positively influence policies at regional and national levels.

All the SEE partners attended and some were accompanied by government representatives or regional policy-makers so that the policy recommendations discussed would be more relevant for the ultimate decision-makers. The Policy Recommendation Research Group, made up of five SEE partners (Finland, Estonia, Slovenia, Ireland & UK), will collate the information shared over the two days and develop a policy recommendation booklet on this workshop’s theme, which will be distributed to policy-makers and governments.

There was also particular focus on the SEE partners’ joint response to the European Commission’s public consultation on Design as a driver of user-centred innovation, which presents a concrete opportunity to incorporate design into EU innovation policy.

DAY ONE
Innovation related to product development, R&D and manufacturing / Greg Coyle / Enterprise Ireland
Innovation related to work with communities / John Thackara / DOTT 07
Innovation related to creative cities / Laurent Trontin / Greater Lyon
Innovation related to service and public sector / Hervé Mathe / ESSEC School of Business Institute of Service Innovation & Strategy
Innovation on the EU Agenda & the European Commission public consultation on design and innovation / Gisele Raulik-Murphy / Design Wales
Conclusions / Tom Inns / Theatres of Thinking & Gavin Cawood / Design Wales

DAY TWO
National and regional policies for innovation and design in partner countries / SEE partners - Pecha Kucha presentations: Wales /Belgium / Denmark / Estonia / France / Ireland / Italy / Poland / Slovenia / Spain
Integrating creativity and design into regional innovation policy / interactive workshop facilitated by Tom Inns / Theatres of Thinking
Drawing a collective response to the EU public consultation Design as a driver of user-centred innovation / facilitated by Tom Inns / Theatre of Thinking
Design and Creativity Watch in National Policies / ARDI Rhone-Alps Design Centre

List of participants
Andreja Jenko, Government Office for Growth, Slovenia
Barbara Bujnowska, Silesian Marshall Office, Poland 
Charlotte Rix Nicolajsen, ARDI Rhone-Alps Design Centre, France
Diana Tamm, Estonia Estonian Design Centre, Estonia
Erkki Pung, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and Sviiter Creative Agency, Estonia
Eugenia (Jenny) Martí, Barcelona Design Centre, Spain
Ewa Gołębiowska, Silesian Castle of Art & Enterprise, Poland
Franck Bercegeay, ARDI Rhone-Alps Design Centre, France
Gavin Cawood, Design Wales, UK
Gisele Raulik-Murphy, Design Wales, UK
Greg Coyle, Enterprise Ireland, Ireland
Ilaria Bedeschi, Consorzio Casa Toscana, Italy
Ingrid Vandenhoudt, Design Flanders, Belgium
Irene Burroni, Consorzio Casa Toscana, Italy
Justin Knecht, Centre for Design Innovation, Ireland
Kristiina Sipelgas, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Estonia
Kristjan Jagomägi, Estonian Design Centre, Estonia
Maja Šuštaršič, BIO – Architecture Museum of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Marie Noelie Desage, Regional Government of Rhone-Alps, France
Mark Lewis, Welsh Assembly Gov./Dept. for the Economy & Transport / Technology & Innovation, UK
Michal Stefanowski, Polish Association of Industrial Designers, Poland
Sébastien Gay, ARDI Rhone-Alps Design Centre, France
Susie Ruff, Danish Design Centre, Denmark
Tom Inns, Theatres of Thinking, UK