Foster Welcomes EC Delegates To Innovation Workshop

Enterprise Minister Arlene foster has been welcoming 100 delegates from 17 regions across Europe to a workshop event on service innovation.

The European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General organised the event in co-operation with Invest Northern Ireland.

The event runs over three days in Belfast and is the result of Northern Ireland being selected as one of six 'model demonstrator' regions of Europe.

A model demonstrator region is one that can show how it has transformed its economy through innovation.

Welcoming the delegates Arlene Foster said: "This workshop is a collaboration between my Department, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry team and their expert partners, the European Service Innovation Centre.

"We are delighted that Northern Ireland was chosen as a model demonstrator and as the host of this important workshop. It reflects an appreciation of how Belfast has used innovation as a driver for change following the decline of its traditional industries.

"The city has applied old skill sets to new sectors and developed global partnerships in order to exploit emerging economic opportunities. A number of Northern Ireland businesses are working with global partners on projects across a range of diverse sectors such as broadcasting, advanced materials and energy, thereby ensuring a competitive economic landscape for Belfast in the 21st century."

The workshop focuses on economic challenges that can be addressed through service innovation, sharing experience and setting an agenda for structural change towards service-driven economies.

Delegates included representatives from the EU Commission and the European Service Innovation Centre, European region policy makers, business people and academics.

(IT)