The Conference will join economic development practitioners, policy makers, business leaders and researchers from around the world to learn, debate and network about the future of clusters, competiveness and innovation.

The Regional Studies Association (RSA) has recently established a Research Network on "Effectiveness, Added Value and Future of EU Cohesion Policy", bringing together academics researching the impact of cohesion policy, with practitioners working with the policy on the ground. The Network is now seeking contributions to its First Workshop on "Multi-level governance and partnership in EU cohesion policy", due to take place at the Institute for European Integration Research (EIF) in Vienna, Austria on 29-30 November 2011.

Eastern Partnership, inaugurated in 2009 as a Polish-Swedish initiative, is meant to be a contribution for reaching one of the crucial targets of Polish foreign relations policy, which is a rapprochement and integration between Eastern European countries and the European Union. Moreover, through the ongoing and gradual integration with the EU, concerning Eastern European countries and their societies, as well as through supporting these countries' ambitions to deepen the connection and integration with the EU, this initiative introduces new standard of relations between the EU and Eastern Partnership states.

TACTICS partners /ECA will gather on 20-21 October 2011, in Warsaw, Poland, on the occasion of the conference "Strengthening Cluster Policy Cooperation in Europe - looking ahead to a new policy agenda" they have initiated. This event is organised by PARP in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Economy, under the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. The main objective of this cluster conference is to provide an active debate on how to improve future cluster policies in Europe.

The 6th International Seminar on Regional Innovation Policies will take place at Lund University, Sweden, on 13-14 October 2011. The conference offers two days of plenaries, presentations and intense discussions on preconditions and strategies for regional innovation policy and regional development in Europe.

206 regions and cities from 27 Member States and eight third countries will take part in OPEN DAYS 2011. Organized in 23 regional partnerships, they will contribute with 24 workshops to the complete programme of more than 100 seminars taking place during the OPEN DAYS between 10 and 13 October. In addition, the Committee of the Regions will host some 35 workshops in the framework of the Meeting Place, most of which focusing on public-private partnerships.

The new calls for proposals for the programme "Regions of Knowledge" and "Research Potential" will be presented on 22 September 2011, in Brussels (Crowne Plaza, Rue de la Loi 107, Bruxelles, 9.00-16.30). The Information Day & Brokerage event is organised by the European Network of "Research Potential" National Contact Points (ResPotNet). During the event, Dr Dimitri Corpakis (European Commission, DG R&I, Head of Unit Regional Dimension of Innovation) will present the priorities for regional innovation strategies. An overview of calls-2012 will be presented by EC officials.

The 51st European Congress of the Regional Association International, to be held in Barcelona (Spain) from August 30 to September 3, 2011. The main theme of the ERSA 2011 conference is "New challenges for European Regions and Urban Areas in a Globalised World". A large number of regional scientists and practitioners are expected to attend this meeting where a list of topics on regional and urban issues will be discussed.

An event entitled 'Innovation for stronger regions: opportunities in FP7' will take place on 14 July 2011 in Brussels, Belgium. The aim of the event will be raise awareness in the Regions of the forthcoming Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) calls to be published in late July 2011. While the future calls will be covered by future targeted information sessions, the conference aims to:

• encourage new local/regional actors to get acquainted with the Framework Programme;
• provide an opportunity for more established actors to share their experience with other regions, so as to mutually learn how regions are developing their research/innovation capacities and supporting business engagement in European research/innovation programmes;
• stimulate new partnerships between regions with shared or complementary research/innovation capabilities;
• inspire learning and sharing ideas on new thinking, such as smart specialisation, and how this may affect regional approaches to research and innovation

Tools and networks for smart and sustainable cities and regions will be at the heart of this year's Regions for Economic Change Conference, the annual meeting point of Europe's Structural Funds managers. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and discuss about examples of excellent regional initiatives driving Europe's transformation towards a knowledge-based and green economy.

PRO INNO Europe® announced its 4th Annual Partnering Event will be held in Munich (Germany) on 5-7 April 2011. The event is hosted by the European Patent Office (EPO) and is organised in close collaboration with the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry. The registration will be open soon.

The Conference, organized by the Estonian Competitiveness Institute European Regional Conference, will focus on how to improve the Cluster policies both on European, national and regional level and how to achieve excellence in cluster management. The conference will also provide a deeper insight into cluster development in Eastern and Central Europe being the first TCI conference in this region.

The conference aims to explore the role of clusters as drivers of firms, regions and nations competitiveness. The agenda is already available on the Conference's website.

ESPON (European Observation Network, Territorial Development and Cohesion) organizes an Info Day and Partner Café in Brussels on 10 February 2011, in the framework of the upcoming Call for Proposals and Expression of Interest to be opened on 24 January 2011. Potential beneficiaries will be informed and assisted to prepare proposals for the upcoming Call. The European Commission DG Regio and the Hungarian EU Presidency will present the policy demand behind the need for further ESPON results. The Info Day and Partner Café will also give participants the chance to network, to find partners for their projects and get feedback. Deadline for registration is 28 January 2011 at 15h00.