TechLink - Constructing an Inter-regional Innovation Network

TechLink is an Interreg IIIb project of trans-national cooperation involving four regions of the Atlantic Area, North of Portugal, Basque Country, Bretagne in France and West of Ireland.

Interreg III

Interreg III is one of the four programmes of Community initiative established by the European Commission intended to support a harmonious, balanced and durable development of the European territory over the period 2000-2006.

The general objectives of Interreg III are

- to contribute to a harmonious territorial integration of all the community,

- to encourage trans-national, trans-border and inter-regional co-operation,

- to create a real involvement of European organisations by supporting collective projects involving partners from several countries.

TechLink

The mission of TechLink is to contribute to the social and economical development of the regions involved by promoting a culture of innovation and exchange of developments among them, strengthening the competitiveness of the area and increasing transfer of technological innovation.

Traditionally industrialised, the regions taking part in this project are currently faced with new competition from countries with low production costs.

In order to stay competitive and avoid the risks of delocalisation, these regions must build new competitive forces based on knowledge and innovation, while developing trans-national co-operation between public and private organisations in the sector of technological innovation (universities, SMEs, technological centres).

On the basis of the study of the current situation, the project consists of creating a network of trans-national co-operation which will develop methodologies and tools making it possible to control and guide the evolution of innovation in a continuous manner.