Launch website Innovation Festival
www.innovationfestival.eu

[19 April 2010]. Today the European website for IF… Innovation Festival was launched. IF… is an initiative promoted by the European Commission as part of Pro Inno Europe, which aims at raising awareness about the crucial role of creativity, design and innovation in the progress and development of society & enhancing competitiveness in business and economy as a whole. The Innovation Festival contributes to building a stronger regional innovation identity by helping to raise the international profile of the cities or regions.

The aim of the website is to create a portal where visitors can find general information about the project, learn more about regional innovation, access innovative initiatives and easily reach the regional websites of each of the six Innovation Festivals. It is also an intersecting point where people and organizations from different cities or regions meet. The events organized in the six participating cities (Barcelona, Milano, Kortrijk, Lisbon, Vilnius and Tallinn) are targeted at a broad audience: citizens, experts, businesses, public bodies, NGO’s, financial institutions, educational centres, universities, etc. Participants and visitors will be offered the opportunity to learn about, and actively contribute to innovation within their region.

Innovation Festivals across Europe
The Innovation Festival promotes and organises six Innovation Festivals in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The first festival took place in October 2009 in Barcelona. The city will be followed by Lisbon, Kortrijk and Milan in 2010 and by Vilnius and Tallinn in 2011.

IF... demonstrates how innovation and design respond to societal challenges, and strengthens regional innovation systems and the overall commitment towards innovation by bringing different institutions and organisations closer together. It is a celebration across six European cities, mobilising their citizens, youth, creative industries, businesses, researchers and other regional players to broaden their minds and be part of multiple events that will not only showcase excellence and innovativeness but also address important societal challenges such as boosting creativity, addressing inclusion and mobility or the societal impact of technology in society. By strengthening regional innovation, the competitive position of Europe will improve. For more information about IF… visit our website at www.innovationfestival.eu

Innovation Festival partners are: Centro Portugues de Design (Portugal), Provincia di Milano (Italy), Alintec (Italy), Lithuanian Innovation Centre (Lithuania), Estonian Association of Designers  (Estonia), Barcelona Centre de Disseny (Spain), Stadsbestuur Kortrijk (Belgium).


Contact information

Project management team:
Marija Popovic (main contact person) - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Beatriz Vidal - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Barbara Cruz - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Isabel Cotrim - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it