Press release: Need for Coordinated Investments in the Baltic Sea Region

Press release: Need for Coordinated Investments in the Baltic Sea Region
“The Baltic Sea Region lacks cross-border financial support infrastructure for research, development and education in order to in order to be more than on Top of Europe”. This is the conclusion by the Chairman of ScanBalt Hans-Robert Metelmann as a comment to the preparations of an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.

The European Commission was requested by the European Council in December 2007 to present an EU strategy for the Baltic Sea Region at the latest by June 2009. This is an excellent initiative which will be crucial for the successful development of the region if the intentions are followed-up with concrete measures. For ScanBalt BioRegion it is a key issue that the Baltic Sea Region strengthens cross-border innovation based on the principles of sustainability which leads to smart growth. This requires effective collaboration within research, development and education driving the Baltic Sea Region forward as a competitive knowledge-based Society.

Hans-Robert Metelmann, Chairman of ScanBalt, says: “The Nordic countries have well established financial infrastructures in the Nordic Council of Ministers and its institutions but they do not cover the entire Baltic Sea Region and lack the financial strength to fully exploit the potentials in cross-border collaboration. Likewise, EU supports regional development but the funds for research, development and education are not sufficient and lack focus. The Baltic Sea Region must commit itself to establish strong cross-border financing collaborations, networks or institutions, which can support research, development and education in coordinated investments with other funds. This requires commitment from regional and national authorities and institutions. By doing so the Baltic Sea Region can become a global winner based on smart growth”.

For further information contact Hans-Robert Metelmann at e-mail or General Secretary Peter Frank at +45 27141078

For information on ScanBalt BioRegion and ScanBalt, seewww.scanbalt.org