Im Rahmen der 26. Bled eConference: eInnovation: Challenges and Impacts for Individuals, Organizations and Society im Juni 2013 in Bled, Slowenien, organisiert Hans-Dieter Zimmermann von der FHS St. Gallen ein Panel mit dem Thema Creating smart Regions through Open Societal Innovation.

Ziel des Panels ist es, die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven, die gegenwärtig bei der Diskussion zur Bewältigung von Herausforderungen in Städten und Regionen eingenommen werden, im Zusammenhang zu betrachten: Die Rolle der IKT, der regionale Focus sowie die Möglichkeiten von Open Innovation Prozessen.

Teilnehmer des Panels sind

• Julia Glidden, Managing Director, 21c Consultancy, UK,
• Bror Salmelin, Advisor to the DG Information Society and Media, European Commission; Innovation Systems, Belgium, und
• Geert Mareels, Flemish eGovernment Manager, Flemish eGovernment Coordination Unit (CORVE), Belgium.

Panel Abstract: (pdf)

“This panel will continue the discussion about eRegions which emerged from the Bled eConference and attempts to embed the concept within a ‘Smart City’ and ‘Open Innovation’ context.

The notion of eRegions mainly refers on utilizing ICT to support commercial activities in a greater regional context. Similarly, the term Smart City usually begins with a focus on ICT utilization to create ‘smart’ urban areas. Although the notion of Smart Cities comprises intellectual and social capital as well many current activities focus on infrastructural and environmental issues such as energy, traffic, or climate. The idea of Open Societal Innovation refers to the utilization of open innovation approaches from business to state and society to solve societal challenges through involving smart people as innovators into idea creation and problem solving processes.

The panel will bring together the different perspectives contributing to a broader understanding of smart regions:

(1) ICT focus: Nowadays, utilization of ICT means are crucial to cope with the current challenges.

(2) Regional focus: Beside megacities and metropolitan areas the interplay of a number of municipalities with complementary profiles creating regional clusters is an important issue in many European countries, but also beyond.

(3) Open innovation focus: The open societal innovation approach includes people living in specific areas into respective processes in order to cope with current challenges reflection a general trend addressing participatory strategies.

Our distinct panellists are well known experts in the community and will contribute to the panel based on their rich experiences.”

Zur offenen gesellschaftlichen Innovation vgl. auch eSociety Bodensee 2020.