The development of the bid for a fast-track Regions for Economic Change (RfEC) network on 'taking new knowledge rapidly to market' is being led by the South West RDA. The fast-track networks will be used for rapid sharing of good practice and as a testing ground for new policy. 
 
Regions for Economic Change, which falls under the European Commission's Territorial Cooperation objective, is as an exciting development in terms of the Commission moving towards more structured, rather than ad hoc, policy development.

The decision to develop the network bid follows from the Beyond Best Practice Summit held in South West England in July, which was attended 19 regions, from 16 European Member States. The summit report (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 75.97kb) is now available.

The South West RDA has now contracted EKOS Consulting to support the development of the network bid, working with a group of core regions. The proposals will then be discussed and validated at a meeting at the end of September in Brussels. Participating regions are being contacted about this. The bid will be submitted in the autumn, following the publication of the Commission's open call for new networks under Regions for Economic Change. 
 
If you wish to find out more about, or discuss any aspect of, the summit or the network bid, please contact Maria Ioannou, Policy Manager (Europe) at the South West RDA, either by phone on +44 (0) 1392 229337 or by email at maria.ioannou@southwestrda.org.uk