Introduction
Following the launch of the pilot Sub-regional Innovation Policy Outlook (IPO) for Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus (EESC) in November 2020, UNECE is now developing a Sub-regional Interim IPO publication to be published in 2022. The objective of the Interim IPO is to analyse sub-regional trends, challenges and opportunities within certain topics, chosen by the six countries as the most relevant to innovation policy in the sub-region. These topics include:
- Innovation Policy Coordination and Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Councils
- Science-Business Linkages for Innovation
- Innovation-Enhancing Procurement (14 June 2022)
Engaging a broad range of public and private sector representatives as well as both national and international experts and partner organisations, such as the OECD, the European Commission’s JRC and Horizon Europe, and WIPO, UNECE is organising a series of virtual policy dialogues on the chosen topics of the forthcoming Interim IPO. These policy dialogues serve as a platform for mutual learning and knowledge exchange between EESC stakeholders and include expert presentations, case studies, and open discussions. The outcomes form the basis of the elective chapters of the Interim IPO.