European Regional Conference in Brussels

The aim of this European Regional Conference was to engage network partners and other stakeholders at regional, national and EC level to debate both our findings and recommendations.  Also we tried to stimulate EU-wide debate and action on how the economic and social development potential of health sector investment across European regions is realised to support delivery of the Lisbon Agenda. Besides we explored further development of this agenda within the context of opportunities within the Interregional Cooperation Programme and Regions for Economic Change (2007-2013) and creating sustainable and efficient health care systems under FP7.

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• The programme presented the four policy agendas and summarised the project’s recommendations relating to the following activity areas: engaging SMEs in health sector procurement, affordable investment in health care infrastructure, inclusive employment and innovation with social value. 

• Senior speakers from partner regions shared their experiences and regional strategies relating to these four strategic health system activities. 

• There were also keynote presentations by European Commission staff from DG Regional Policy and DG Research, which explored the future policy approach of the EC and the opportunities available under new EU Programmes (2007-2013) relating to the project.

• Through a ‘question time roundtable discussion’ we gave the opportunity for wider reflection and debate about the network topics, and the connections between network outputs (knowledge, tools, policies) for regions’ and EC policies/programmes.

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Download the keynote presentations from here

• Prof Jonathan Watson: Health ClusterNET: leveraging health sector investments into regional development
• Steve Parry - Pat Broster: Engaging SMEs in health sector procurement: the Bilbao Agenda
• Ulrich Hoffmann: Affordable investment in health care infrastructure: the Graz Agenda
• Kevin McCarthy: A Healthy FP7 Programme
• Marta Arrieta Rodriguez: Inclusive employment: the Pecs Agenda
• Mike Asher: Regional competitiveness and health innovations: the Liverpool Agenda
• Olivier Baudelet: The European territorial co-operation 2007-2013
• Gabriel Mª Inclán, Minister of Health, Basque Country: A new future for Health ClusterNET

Download other documents from here

• Detailed programme
• Invitation letter 
• List of participants
• List of speakers and panel members

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Participants were representatives from

• Regions/governments within the EU and in pre-accession countries
• Relevant EC directorates (e.g. Regional Policy, Research, Consumer & Health Affairs, Enterprise, Employment)
• European Council of Regions and the European RDA Association
• Strategic Health Authorities (UK) and regional health services across the EU
• Relevant international organisations across Europe (e.g. universities, research centres, national institutes or NGOs working at the field of health, regional development, health care management, SMEs)
• Project partner regions

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Official language was

• English     

Venue 

• North East England Brussels Office, Centre for the Regions, Boulevard St Michel 80, B-1040