Membership at International Organizations and Networks

Assembly of European Regions (AER) created in 1985, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the political voice of the regions and the key partner for the European and international institutions on every issue of regional competence. The AER promotes subsidiarity and regional democracy and enables the regions to form the essential link between the European Union and the citizens.It supports the diversity of the regions and translates this diversity into a strength. The AER has currently more than 250 member regions from 33 European countries and 14 interregional organisations. Banska Bystrica region joined the AER in 2003.

The AER members work together in order to:

Innovating Regions in Europe Network (IRE Network)
The Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) network was created by the European Commission in the mid-1990s. Its aim is to facilitate exchange of experience and good practice among European regions that are enhancing their capacity to support innovation and competitiveness among regional firms through the development and implementation of regional innovation strategies and schemes. Around 235 member regions are gathered in the IRE network. Banska Bystrica region joined the network in 2005. The majority of the IRE regions have undertaken Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS) projects with support from the European Commission. The RIS projects help regions to optimise their innovation capacity and strengthen the regional innovation system. In many regions, the RIS project has been the starting point for successful initiatives boosting innovation Over the past decade, IRE member regions have generated a wealth of experience regarding regional innovation schemes and activities. The IRE network gives European decision-makers and innovation practitioners access to knowledge from all over Europe. A range of services - such as conferences and workshops, identification of experts and partners, tailor-made information on relevant good practice, etc - delivered by the IRE Secretariat provides member regions with new tools, schemes and inter-regional learning opportunities on innovation promotion. Three IRE working groups of regions work together on the topics of regional innovation systems, knowledge transfer between universities and enterprises, and innovative clusters. These working groups produce policy recommendations that can be used by other regional innovation actors. Banska Bystrica region is member of “Promotion of innovation in SMEs” working group.
For more detailed information see the web page http://www.innovating-regions.org/

European Regions Knowledge Based Innovative Network (ERIK NETWORK)

European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN)

European Grouping of Territorial cooperation (EGTC)