Beyond4.0 has participated in a laboratory, organized by the Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission, together with the Plus and Technequality projects that also have funding from the H2020 Program for the investigation of “socioeconomic and cultural transformations in the context of the fourth industrial revolution ”. The activity has been held in Brussels within the framework of the European Week of the Regions and Cities 2019, co-organized by Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG Regio) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which annually brings together experts in economic and social development.

Under the title “Participatory Laboratory: Shaping our Future in smarter Regions and Cities - Digitalization, Jobs, Growth” Kerstin Wilde Project Advisor of the REA has moderated the activity together with the Beyond4.0 project staff, Frans van der Zee (TNO) and Egoitz Pomares (Sinnergiak), in a meeting in which EU policy-makers, including regional experts, private and public stakeholders, business professionals and academics have also participated. The aim of the Participatory Lab has been to discuss the prospects and challenges of digitalised labour focusing on regional growth and global competition, to foster synergies across regions ensuring EU-wide impact.

Chaired by Beyond4.0 “Smarter Regions - Smarter Growth” has specialized in reflecting on the regions as an important focus for economic growth and prosperity. In line with the research and task being carried out together with six European regions, Beyond4.0 has guided the activity around 3 issues:

- The challenges of digitalization

- The presentation of scientific arguments and evidence for the formulation of public policies

- The dissemination of good practices at the regional level

The regions, their ecosystems and clusters form the backbone of Europe's production and are a main job generator. That is why the laboratory has discussed strategies for the European regions to continue to keep up with global competition but also can purposefully transform in the digital age.

Egoitz Pomares
epomares@sinnergiak.org