Twin City Hub learns from Europe’s top regional innovation ecosystems
As part of the “Twin City Future Innovation Manufacturing Hub” initiative to strengthen cross-border innovation capacities and shape a future-oriented strategy for Vienna and Bratislava, the project partner delegation undertook a three-day fact-finding mission to the Basque Country. The aim was to draw inspiration from one of the most advanced regional innovation ecosystems in Europe and to gain actionable insights for the design and management of innovation centers.
Effective participation of the public and private sectors
Visits to public innovation agencies, accelerators, vocational training centers for innovation and cooperative research and development institutes provided important insights into how to effectively structure collaboration between the public and private sectors, mobilize educational infrastructure for innovation and integrate start-ups into long-term industrial and societal transitions.
The journey demonstrated the value of embedded forecasting, flexible governance and community-driven innovation branding – factors that are critical to building a resilient and inclusive regional ecosystem.
Impressions
Vision behind the innovation & cooperation models
The participants noted the strategic use of revolving funds, cluster models and start-up infrastructure partnerships as well as the key role of mission-oriented innovation and cooperation models.
The Basque approach, based on equity, applied impact and cross-sector trust, provides valuable guidance for the future development of the Twin City Innovation Manufacturing Hub.
