The new calls for proposals for the programmes "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.

ESPON (the European Observation Network on Territorial Development and Cohesion) has launched Calls for Proposals to further enlarge its Evidence Base on the development of the European territory. Research institutes, universities, scientists, experts and academics from 31 countries are invited to submit proposals. The new Calls are expected to generate four applied research projects, five targeted analyses, six projects within the ESPON scientific platform and proposals for transnational networking activities up until the end of 2014.
ESPON calls for researchers and experts to send submissions and to get involved in the production of ESPON data to support an evidence-based and result-oriented implementation of EU Cohesion Policy. The available budget amounts to €7.417.176,09. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 October 2011.

This invitation is targeting innovation support organisations at both national and regional level. Expressions of interest are welcome from organisations that are willing to work to improve their organisational efficiency and effectiveness and that are interested in joining the INNO-Partnering Forum for an effective introduction of the use of the EFQM Excellence model. Organisations may either:
- Have no previous experience of the Model, but be interested in getting a solid understanding of it through an assessment carried out by INNO-Partnering Forum experts; or they may
- Have already gained experience on the use of the Model (or corresponding tools), but want to further deepen their knowledge of its use and potential.

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 first day's discussions will focus on cluster policy context in Europe including the expectations of the European Commission in terms of gaps to be addressed, the review of ongoing European projects and initiatives related to clusters, and diverse topics to be discussed in parallel sessions: "interclustering and internationalisation", the "international visibility of European clusters" and "clusters as eco-system for open innovation", with the support of the work achieved in the TACTICS taskforces on these topics. The second day will be dedicated to the European Cluster Alliance, new projects and policy cooperation opportunities. Around 120 people are expected, including speakers, experts, guests, project partners and RG members.

The new call for proposals for "Regions of Knowledge" programme was launched on 20 July 2011. The budget of the call "Transnational cooperation between regional research-driven clusters" is 46 mil.euro (from 2012/2013 budget) and the deadline is on 31 January 2012. This is the last call for "Regions of Knowledge" programme. It covers the topics:
- Regional Digital Agenda
- Resource Efficiency.

RESPOTNET, the European Network for Research Potential NCPs, organizes the workshop "Assessment and new challenges of Research Potential programme", in Debrecen, on 9 June, within the frame of WIRE II Conference.

WIRE 2011 Conference organized under the Hungarian Presidency, is offering a perfect environment to meet the protagonists of the development of the programmes "Research Potential" and "Regions of Knowledge", analyze their implementation, the coming future, as well as possible synergies with other programmes like the "Research Infrastructures". The Workshop makes an assessment of the running REGPOT projects, discuss the current environment of the Regional FP7 Programmes, and will analyze the possible synergies among the main existing programmes.

The objective of the RegioStars Awards is to identify good practices in regional development and to highlight original and innovative projects which could be attractive and inspiring to other regions. RegioStars - The Awards for Innovative Projects - form part of the enhanced communication effort proposed in the Communication on Regions for Economic Change (COM(2006) 675).

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.

The Conference "Inspiring Clusters in the Beginning of the New Decade" was held on 30-31 March 2011, in Tallinn, Estonia. TRANS REG NCP representative presented the Network and the forthcoming call for proposals in the session called "Do We Need New Cluster Policies in the New Decade?".