| Innovation is the most important contributor to long-term economic growth. It is not just about “pushing the frontier”, but also about the spread of ideas and technologies throughout the economy. Innovation diffusion can help regions to catch up by integrating and building on existing ideas and technologies. Yet, the spread of innovation seems to be slow. What are the mechanisms of innovation diffusion, what are the barriers and how can regions more actively and successfully learn in order to increase their productivity, competitiveness and wellbeing?
The webinar is arranged by OECD Trento Centre for Local Development and its OECD Spatial Productivity Lab in collaboration with Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum Speakers |
| Rudiger Ahrend Head of Division, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD |
Linara Axanova Senior Associate Director, Penn Center for Innovation, US |
Ron Boschma Professor of Regional Economics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands |
Katerina Ciampi Stancova Scientific Officer, JRS, European Commission |
Riccardo Crescenzi Professor of Economic Geography, LSE, UK |
| Johan Eklund Managing Director, Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum |
Alexander Lembcke Head of Unit, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD |
Joaquim Oliveira Martins Special Advisor, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms; Counsellor, CEPII, France |
Eva Schelin CEO, The Knowledge Foundation, Sweden |
Alison Weingarden Policy Analyst, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD |