The SPIDER Project was focused on the potential of using foresight methods to increase regional competitiveness. The project was funded by the European Union’s Regions of Knowledge Pilot Action Programme during 2004-2006.
The aim of the SPIDER project was to increase potential of intrinsic regional strengths. The output of the networked co-operation is a selection of regional visions that focus on exploring future possibilities in promoting European economic progress. Future potentials of emerging fields of economic activity in the regions, the competitive advantages, are explored by the project partners to reach these aims. Futures studies / foresight exercises are conducted to overview and discuss policy options and opportunities.
A main feature of the project is learning via the sharing and benchmarking of comparative performance and good practice. Therefore, regions with economic growth potential of some specific economic fields are selected as target regions of the research. The
evaluation model of regional competition and innovation systems presented by the Ståhle & Sotarauta (2003) “Regional Innovation Activities in Finland – Current Status, Significance and Developmental Challenges” (published by the Finnish Parliament, Committee for the Future), is applied.
The regions to be evaluated and compared have been selected among three EU countries:
- Southern Finland, Finland,
- Wallonia, Belgium,
- Regierungsbezirk Düsseldorf, Germany.
Piloting the network means creating visions for the knowledge-based European society and economy. These visions are based on regional actors as driving forces of European Union social cohesion and economic progress.
Further information:
Juha Kaskinen
Director
Tel. +358 2 481 4528
juha.kaskinen@tse.fi
> Finland Futures Research Centre