REGIONAL PLANNING MODELS IN ORDER TO STIMULATE THE RESEARCH-DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES

The regional policy is a key element of the EU 2007-2013 strategy for economic growth and jobs and innovation is placed in the middle of all these efforts. This way, it is offered an important support to innovation within different regions and member states. The EU regional policy must respond to globalization challenges and expansion opportunities. The next generation of regional programs must be in conformity with the Lisbon Agenda requirements for economic growth and jobs, that is why it is necessary to reorganize it according to the other policies and priorities. The competitiveness and economic growth objectives are implemented at all levels: local, regional and national. The regional programs had and will finance many innovative activities in every sector: economical, social, cultural, technological. In fact, they supported pilot-projects which intended innovation in certain sectors and which were extended successfully on a large scale. New partners and methods were encouraged to move in on innovation field: enterprises, universities, research centers, public authorities.