Strasbourg, France – 5 February 2024 – The 4th Interregional VIADUCT Meeting successfully gathered key stakeholders from across Europe on 4–5 February 2024 in Strasbourg. Hosted by SATT CONECTUS, the event focused on policy improvements and knowledge transfer to support spin-off creation, strengthening Europe’s innovation landscape.
Strengthening Policy and Collaboration
The meeting opened at the Grand Est Regional Council with a keynote from Claude Sturni, Vice-President for Economic Development, Research and Innovation. Cristina Ruiz García (University of Zaragoza) then outlined the diverse innovation ecosystems across Europe, setting the stage for discussions on the regulatory and legal frameworks of spin-off creation.
A peer review session featured best practices from SATT CONECTUS (France), ASTP (Netherlands), and the University of Zaragoza (Spain), highlighting dual legal protection for spin-offs, digital tools for regulatory compliance, and regulatory frameworks for spin-off creation.
A key focus was policy improvements resulting from the VIADUCT cooperation. Gema Quilez (VIADUCT Coordination Team, Cooperari Projects SL) led discussions on policy advancements in Aragón (Spain), Pieve di Soligo (Italy), West Region Romania, Kaunas Region (Lithuania), Western Region (Ireland), and Grand Est Region (France). These discussions aligned with the broader Interreg Europe objectives, fostering policy learning and sharing best practices (more information on Interreg Europe policy improvements).
The day concluded with a study visit to the European Parliament, reinforcing the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping future policies.
HealthTech Innovation Takes Centre Stage
Day 2 shifted focus to the NextMed campus and IRCAD, Strasbourg’s renowned centre for surgical innovation. Professor Jacques Marescaux (IRCAD) provided insights into advancements in minimally invasive surgical techniques, followed by Thomas Parent’s discussion on IRCAD’s digital education initiatives. Nicolas Pellerin (NextMed) and Caroline Dreyer (BioValley France) presented on Strasbourg’s health ecosystem, while Dr. Nihal Engin Vrana shared the inspiring spin-off success story of SPARTHA.
Participants had the opportunity to observe live laparoscopic and robotic surgical training, showcasing the real-world impact of research-driven innovation.
The afternoon featured peer review workshops addressing regulatory challenges faced by spin-offs in Italy, Romania, Lithuania, and Finland, focusing on legal hurdles, rural-urban divides, and employee involvement. These discussions underscored the need for improved policies to support entrepreneurship across Europe.
The meeting concluded with a networking event at Strasbourg’s historic hospital, fostering further collaboration among participants.
Next Steps
The VIADUCT project continues to advance policy improvements and knowledge exchange. The next interregional meeting is set to take place in Lithuania this June, further driving collaboration and best practice sharing.
A special thank you to all partners—OTRI Universidad de Zaragoza (TTO), West Regional Development Agency (West RDA), The Council of Tampere Region / Pirkanmaan liitto, Tech-Park Kaunas, Western Development Commission, Comune di Pieve di Soligo, and ASTP—for their contributions to this impactful event.
For more information, visit Interreg Europe VIADUCT Project.