“Delivering the Innovation Union – The Essential Contribution of RTOs”, EARTO Conference, Warsaw, 12-13 May 2011

The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) „Delivering the Innovation Union – The Essential Contribution of RTOs” Annual Conference was held in Warsaw on 12-13 May 2011. The TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS Foundation - an EARTO member since 2001 - was the Conference co-organiser.

The Conference served to review the undertakings of European RTOs with the most significant impact on creating the Innovation Union in line with the EUROPE 2020 strategy. Of special significance in this area were the Conference presentations by the Representative of the Office of the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Representative, Patricia Reilly, and Polish government administration representatives. The Conference Programme included Plenary Sessions and the 3 following Parallel Thematic Panel Sessions:

• Models and Perspectives for Strategic Cooperation among RTOs;

• Cooperation among and with Polish RTOs: Models & Opportunities (panel session organised by TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, moderated by Richard Granger, President of the Foundation's European Office in Brussels);

• Innovation Union: from Research to Innovation.

The Conference participants represented the Polish and European S&T sector (especially EARTO member-organisations, such as VTT, Fraunhofer, TNO, TECNALIA, ELKEDE, SINTEF), industry and public administration. The Conference gathered total of over 140 participants from Poland and Europe.

The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations groups European and non-European research organisations. Its current memberships stands at 350 organisations that employ a total of 150,000 scientists and engineers and have an annual turnover of 15 bln euro. EARTO Annual Conferences, held in a different country each year, are organised in cooperation with the host-country’s leading research organisations.  The TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS Foundation co-organised the EARTO Annual Conference for the second time (the first one was the Conference held in Warsaw, 14-15 April 2005).

For more information on EARTO, see www.earto.eu

BASIC INFORMATION ON THE 2011 EARTO ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Conference Title: Delivering the Innovation Union – The Essential Contribution of RTOs

Conference Organiser: European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO)

Local Partner: TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS Foundation

Conference venue: Hotel Sofitel Warsaw Victoria

Address: Warszawa, 11 Królewska St.

Dates: 12-13 May 2011

Information on the programme, presenters and guests list, and selected presentations are available on the Conference Website:   Conference Website