The conference aims to provide an interim report to the Regional Development Research in Switzerland and help to identify gaps and needs for further research. In addition, the researchers will have the opportunity to mutually present their research and discuss them with other researchers in the event.

The poster (PDF)(PDF 373,3 KB) presented by INE includes first results from the «METRIC» project. METRIC (Mapping European regional Transport Research and Innovation Capacities) will map regional transport innovation capacities and identify regions with competitive advantages. Based on their strengths, guidelines for the preparation of innovation roadmaps (strategy plans) will be developed. METRIC will also explore the regional innovation potential in order to make recommendations on how to support weaker regions.

For the regiosuisse Conference the innovation potential was measured in the transport sector for each canton in terms enablers (Basis for innovation), firm activities (main innovation) and outputs (results of innovation). High innovation potential arises especially in the economically strong regions Zurich, St. Gallen, Bern, Lausanne and Basel. A relatively high potential between Basel, Bern and Zurich is explained by specific needs of site quality in the transport sector such as space and transport links. Opportunities of specialization are found in regions with lower potential like in Thurgau, Lucerne or in the Solothurn area - while the mountain regions expected to have a low potential. The poster is divided into two parts - the main part includes Switzerland and as a comparison, the innovation potential in Europe is mapped. Based on strong regional differences in economic performance of each region Europe has been divided in three groups.