“RRI and regional development: common dilemmas, different approaches” is a series of three webinars dealing with the concepts of regional dilemmas and Responsible Research and Innovation. The series intend to bring together European territories from 4 different SwafS projects (TeRRItoria, SeeRRI, RRI2SCALE, DigiTeRRI), and each webinar is devoted to a different family of territories which share common regional dilemmas, as well as similar socio-economic and geographic characteristics.

 

EURADA, WeDo, and White Research organise these webinars with the aim of sharing the participating territories’ insights on how the same dilemmas are experienced differently and how RRI elements are territorially implemented to overcome them.

 

Our first webinar was held successfully in June, and it was dedicated to maritime territories. You can find more info here to better understand the context.

 

Our third, and last, webinar is scheduled for Tuesday 5th of April 2022, from 11:00 to 13: 15 CET, and will be dedicated to rural territories.

The participating territories will be: 

 

Speakers representing their territories will discuss the two-fold challenge of rural de-population and brain-drain, and how the regional application of RRI elements can help overcome these dilemmas, especially through responsible digitalisation.

In particular, speakers will present how current regional R&I and R&D processes and strategies have negative implications for the rural areas of ther territories. Indicative questions to be explored are: How is the dilemma “advanced R&I urban centres vs. geographically equal R&I development” manifested in Europe? What are the consequences of an “irresponsible” R&I to the human capital of rural communities? How can application of RRI reverse the trends and help rural areas become more competitive, smart and sustainable? What role can “responsible” digitalisation play in helping rural ecosystems thrive again?

Agenda of the 3^rd webinar

10.50 – 11.00	Registration/ZOOM Connection
11.00 – 11.05	Opening speech by Esteban Pelayo – Director of EURADA  Presentation of speakers and agenda
11.05 – 11.15	Honorary presentation of DigiTeRRI project  Marianne Hörlesberger - DigiTeRRI Project Coordinator
11.15 – 11.35	RRI and rural Europe honorary introductory presentation by Edurne A. Iñigo - Assistant professor at Deusto Business School
11.35 – 11.50	Presentation of territories: basic characteristics (sectors, innovation progress, resources, etc.) Round table among all speakers for introducing their territory    Thomas Berker - Head of Centre for Technology and Society at Norwegian University of Science and Technology Agatha Filimon - Head of the Sectoral Specialisation Office at North-East Regional Development Agency Helene Vogelmann - Programme manager at Region Värmland
11.50 – 12.20	R&I and rural development: regional trade-offs Round table among speakers to present how current regional R&I strategies can lead to trade-offs in rural areas (e.g., depopulation, weak innovation, brain-drain)   Thomas Berker - Head of Centre for Technology and Society at Norwegian University of Science and Technology Agatha Filimon - Head of the Sectoral Specialisation Office at North-East Regional Development Agency Helene Vogelmann - Programme manager at Region Värmland
12.20 – 12.50	Good regional practices: application of RRI elements for sustainable rural transition Round table among speakers to present territorial RRI practices for digitalisation and sustainable innovation in rural areas   Thomas Berker - Head of Centre for Technology and Society at Norwegian University of Science and Technology Agatha Filimon - Head of the Sectoral Specialisation Office at North-East Regional Development Agency Helene Vogelmann - Programme manager at Region Värmland
12.50 – 13.20	Peer exchange on lessons learnt Open discussion among speakers to present their thoughts on other territories’ dilemmas and good practices – contribution from participants