On June 11th, INSME’s member EURADA brought together policymakers, development agencies, innovation leaders, and institutional stakeholders in their annual AGORADA conference in Brussels. The 2026 edition focused on how regions can respond to the major structural changes currently reshaping Europe’s economy and policy landscape. Our Secretary General, Giovanni Zazzerini, represented INSME as a speaker in the event and largely contributed to the debate surrounding these challenges.
He participated in the session “Overcoming Energy and Geopolitical Disruptions”, alongside representatives from SODENA, the OECD, and SIRIS Academic. The discussion explored how recent crises have exposed Europe’s vulnerabilities to external dependencies, particularly in energy and critical resources, reinforcing the need for greater strategic autonomy and a faster transition towards sustainable and technologically advanced economic models. Speakers conversed about how Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) can support regions in addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, aligning innovation investments with regional priorities, and strengthening industrial ecosystems in response to evolving global challenges.
AGORADA 2026 provided a forum that reaffirmed the strategic significance of regional development agencies and international cooperation in promoting innovation-led regional development. INSME’s participation underscored the Network’s dedication to fostering dialogue and cooperation that fortify regional ecosystems and provide new opportunities for SMEs across Europe, one of our key objectives as an organization.
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