ECRN - News
ECRN Director Michael Hack was invited to the Europe Innova Partnering Event to contribute to the panel discussion “ Promoting new forms of clusters” in September 2009. He highlighted the various cluster initiatives which exist in the ECRN regions and referred to the Interreg IVC application “ChemClust” of several ECRN member regions. Since innovation is one of the network’s strategic topics, the Europe Innova event was an excellent opportunity to present the ECRN activities to European stakeholders and especially to the European Commission. Especially the idea of a feedback process of the regions towards the European Commission received positive acknowledgement. ECRN will develop a dedicated questionnaire in this field. For more information on Europe Innova, please check www.europe-innova.eu.
On the afternoon of the 17th September 2009, with its seminar on innovation in chemical regions the ECRN started into the new season after the summer break. Speakers from the chemical industry, clusters, regional agencies and European networks discussed with the participants cross-innovation, innovation networks and open innovation in chemical regions and the main challenges which lie ahead. After the seminar participants had the chance to continue discussions and exchange of experience in an informal setting. The seminar took place in a process to share project examples, methods and best-practices in the field of innovation, one of the ECRN strategic fields of activity.
The ECRN thanks all speakers and participants for their active contributions, and its member regions Catalonia and Saxony-Anhalt for hosting the event in Brussels!
In the morning of the same day, essenscia Wallonia had invited ECRN members to a guided visit to the “Living Tomorrow” exhibition project in Vilvoorde, where it was demonstrated impressively how sustainable living and working could look like in the future and how our daily life is dependent on chemicals. The exhibition focuses on attracting young people to jobs in the chemical sector and can be seen as a best-practice of how to visualize the importance of chemicals as well as how to attract youngsters to the chemical branch. ECRN thanks essenscia Wallonia for this interesting event. For more information on this exhibition project, visit www.livingtomorrow.be
On the latest meeting of the Ministers of Economy of the German Länder on 18th/19th June 2009, ECRN President and Minister of Economy and Labour of Saxony-Anhalt, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, reported on the High Level Group on Chemistry and the role of the ECRN and on the HLG - Follow-up process which has just begun and in which the ECRN has taken the lead by organizing the first follow-up conference in April in cooperation with member region Ústí and under patronage of the European Commission and the Czech EU Presidency.
The participating Ministers welcomed the report and the HLG final recommendations and stressed their will to actively support these recommendations. The Ministers furthermore welcomed the fact that not only the Czech EU Presidency has put the HLG results on the agenda of the latest Competitiveness Council where a roadmap process with a first evaluation in 2010 has just been proposed, but that also the Spanish and Belgian governments have taken the HLG and the Follow-up process during their EU Presidencies in 2010 in consideration. The Ministers also invited the German government to actively support the roadmap process proposed by the Competitiveness Council.
In order to access the final statement of the Ministers on the ECRN (unfortunately in German only), please click here
On 8th July 2009, in Leuna/ Saxony-Anhalt, representatives from the chemical sector coming from industry, public sector and academia discussed the regional dimension of the HLG recommendations for Saxony-Anhalt and how the implementation of these recommendations can be undertaken most successfully under the specific regional conditions of Saxony-Anhalt in the future. Among the topics discussed were innovation, strategic alliances and logistics. Concerning chemical logistics, Minister of Economy and Labour of Saxony-Anhalt and ECRN President, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, pointed to the transnational chemical logistics project ChemLog and also stressed the role of the ECRN network in strengthening the chemical logistics in Central and Eastern Europe in the near future.
In order to access the press release and media coverage of the event, please click here.
The Competitiveness Council which met on 28th May 2009 called on the European Commission and all other relevant stakeholders to implement the HLG recommendations, as they are crucial for the future success of the chemical sector in Europe. The Council furthermore invited the European Commission to “closely and regularly monitor the competitiveness of the industry and progress made in the implementation of the HLG conclusions” and also to present the first evaluation report of the implementation by the end of 2010, in close consultation with the stakeholders (p. 9 of the Council Conclusions). In order to access the original document, please click here
Participants of the High Level
Group Follow up Conference
in Ústí nad Labem
High Level Group Follow up Conference
in Ústí nad LabemThe High Level Group (HLG) Follow-up Conference “Delivering the HLG results in the regions” which took place on 16th/17th April 2009 in Ústí nad Labem/ Czech Republic was a big success for the ECRN and its member region Ústí, who had been organizers for this event under the patronage of the European Commission and the Czech Presidency: Over 120 participants and high-level speakers from all over Europe representing regional, national and European institutions, industry, academia and associations had assembled in Ústí to discuss the HLG results and how these results can now implemented. Furthermore, the ECRN Executive Board formally adopted a joint congress declaration with the title “A competitiveness agenda for a sustainable chemical industry in Europe - Implementing the HLG recommendations with the chemical regions in Europe” which was distributed among the participants and which will be also addressed to European policymakers.
The final Conference Report is available now and can be accessed here. In order to access the ECRN Conference Declaration and the presentations given by the different speakers, please click here.”
The ChemLog project celebrates its first Dissemination Conference on the 24th of June in Prague. Representatives from Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Italy will discuss challenges for chemical logistics in Central and Eastern Europe. During the conference, the results of the ChemLog SWOT Analysis will be presented and discussed with experts from the chemical industry. The results of this discussion will then be used to identify future joint action concerning chemical logistics. All interested stakeholders are warmly invited to join this undertaking. The ChemLog partners are looking forward to a fruitful discussion.
In order to download the conference agenda and for other information please click here
The ECRN continues to implement actively the High Level Group results in its member regions: On 29th April 2009, the first implementation event after the Ústí conference took place in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia. Under the heading “Chemical industry and competitiveness – Recommendations of the High Level Group on the Chemical Industry” about 100 participants and speakers
exchanged views and developed concepts for effective implementation of the HLG recommendations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the speakers were Christa Thoben, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, Gwenole Cozigou, Director of the Directorate Chemical Industry, DG Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission, Massimo Buscemi, ECRN Vice-President and Minister of Nets, Public Utilities and Sustainable Development of Lombardy and Dr Utz Tillmann, Managing Director of the VCI.
This conference was a further step of the HLG implementation process in the European chemical regions. Further events will follow and will be published on the ECRN website.
The latest ECRN Newsletter print edition (Newsletter No. 9, April 2009) has just been published. It contains a number of interesting articles from ECRN member regions and other contributors and the region profiles of the two new ECRN members Wallonia and Bavaria. The Newsletter is also available as pdf-document on the ECRN website under http://www.ecrn.net/communication/newsletter.php (or via “Communication” - “Newsletter”). The next edition of the Newsletter is scheduled for October 2009.
The Parliamentary Evening of the European Chemical Regions which was hosted by ECRN member region Scotland on 18th February 2009 had a very good response: Over 60 participants took the chance to get together with MEPs from the chemical regions and to discuss different issues of relevance in the nice atmosphere of the Scotland House Conference Center in Brussels.
Speeches were given by the head of the Scottish Government in Brussels Donald Henderson, ECRN President Dr. Reiner Haseloff, MEP Fiona Hall, Caroline Strain, Head of Scottish Enterprise's Chemical Sciences Team and ECRN Vice-President Tony Richmond O.B.E.
In the speeches the importance of the regional perspective also for European decision makers was stressed and the participants therefore encouraged to deepen dialogue and cooperation.
We thank our member region Scotland for hosting this event and all other members who helped to make it a success by spreading the invitations to their MEPs! The next Parliamentary evening is planned for November 2009.
On 19th February 2009 in the Scotland House in Brussels the ECRN General Assembly Meeting 2009 took place. Over 40 representatives from all ECRN member regions attended the most important internal ECRN meeting of the year in order to review the year 2008 and to decide on activities and budget for the year 2009.
Furthermore, several elections were held: Dr. Reiner Haseloff was re-elected ECRN President and after a proposal of Vice-President Karl-Uwe Bütof to increase the number of Vice-Presidents from two to three which was unanimously accepted by the Assembly, Mr. Massimo Buscemi from Lombardy was elected third ECRN Vice-President (apart from Mr. Bütof and Tony Richmond). The detailed minutes from the General Assembly meeting will be provided.
We congratulate our President Dr. Haseloff and our new Vice-President Mr. Buscemi to their elections! The ECRN thanks all members for their participation and input and we are looking forward to another successful year for our
On 18th February 2009, the ECRN Secretariat invited representatives from the European Social Partners, regions and academia to an informal brain-storming on topics of common relevance which could be pushed forward in the future as cooperation projects. Catherine Beudon from the European Chemical Employers Group (ECEG), Reinhard Reibsch from the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) as well as representatives from CEFIC and several ECRN member regions joined the debate. Ideas were raised and discussed and especially two topics were identified which will be followed further in June at the next meeting in Brussels: aging society and the consequences of the financial crisis.
A more detailed report on the meeting will be sent to our members via email. For any questions concerning the meeting and the issues discussed, please feel free to contact the ECRN Secretariat.
PWG Meeting in MilanOn 6th February 2009, the first PWG meeting of the year 2009 took place in Milan, hosted by ECRN member region Lombardy.
After a report of activities given by the Director Michael Hack, the ECRN events planned for the first half of 2009 and especially the agenda of the upcoming General Assembly meeting were discussed and prepared. The participation of Assesore Massimo Buscemi at the meeting was especially appreciated. In the afternoon, a very interesting visit to Milano- founded Mapei industry gave the opportunity to have an insight into this long-established Italian company producing building materials.
PWG Meeting in MilanOn the evening before the PWG meeting, the partners in Milan had organized a networking dinner with several representatives from Federchimica where the participants from the chemical regions had the chance of very interesting informal discussions and exchanges of experience with the Italian Federation of the Chemical Industry.
The ECRN thanks member region Lombardia for the great hospitality and all participants for their input!
On 16th/ 17th April 2009 the ECRN co-organises under the patronage of the Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission in cooperation with its member region Ústí a Follow-up Conference of the HLG on Chemistry in Ústí nad Labem/ Czech Republic.
Further information can be found from end of January 2009 onwards on the following website: www.HLGconference09.cz
Detailed summaries on all HLG meetings and the final report can be found under “High Level Group”
ECRN member region North Rhine – Westphalia organises a webinar on “data-sharing – preparation in SIEF”. Deadline for registration is 20th January 2009. For more information on contents, registration and organisation of this webinar, please click here.
On 8th and 15th December 2008, the last Permanent Working Group meetings in 2008 took place. On the 8th of December, the ECRN in cooperation
PWG meeting December 2008with member region Tees Valley/ UK, organised a meeting in Humberside. An overview was given on the ECRN activities of the last months and the outlook for the coming year. For those members who did not make it to the PWG meeting in the UK the possibility was offered to be informed on the results in Brussels on 15th December, when Michael Hack gave a short conclusion on the results of Humber and stressed once again the important events on the ECRN agenda in the first half of 2009.
PWG meeting December 2008
- Adoption of Congress declaration on the future role of Chemical regions in Europe
Over 120 participants from European and national institutions, chemical regions, industry and science attended the 6th Congress of the European Chemical Regions in Brussels on 27th October 2008. After keynote speeches by European Commission Vice-President
Günter Verheugen, ECRN President Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Vice-Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Milan Hovorka, and Director General of CEFIC Alain Perroy, two high-class workshops on climate change and on the role of innovation clusters concerning chemical industry took place which led to inspiring debates among speakers and participants.
A Congress Declaration on "Chemical Regions – a Driver for Competitiveness and Innovation in Europe" was adopted, which is officially addressed at the members of the HLG on Chemical Industry and the European institutions and other stakeholders. For the agenda and a detailed summary of the 6th Congress, the Congress Declaration and further documents, please click here.
On October 27th the 4th meeting of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Chemical Industry in Europe took place.
The meeting started with a welcome and introduction by Commissioner Günter Verheugen, who referred to the new challenges for the chemical industry created by the financial crisis in recent weeks and to the need for a legal certainty for the industry but also the need for a timely decision on the Energy and climate policy package. In the following discussion with the other HLG members, ECRN President Dr. Reiner Haseloff underlined the need for legal certainty for the energy intensive sector on how it will be treated under the new EU climate policy. He referred to the declaration adopted on the very same day by the ECRN presidium.
Continuing on the agenda, the HLG then endorsed the document on Energy, Feedstock, Infrastructure and Logistics. Commissioner Verheugen highlighted in his speech the constructive role of the ECRN particularly regarding chemical logistics.
The main subject of this HLG meeting was the discussion on the report on Trade and Competitiveness with other Regions which was prepared by an ad hoc group over the last months. Starting the discussion Commissioner Verheugen raised the question to what extent the competitiveness of the European chemical industry has decreased over the recent years. In the then following debate industry representatives highlighted the competitive advantage of Europe regarding dense clustering and high integration particularly of SMEs in comparison to other regions in the world. They also highlighted, however, that this position is endangered by the current economic downturn and the over-regulation in Europe. The second round of discussion dealt with the outlook of the future trade negotiations in the world and their impact on the chemical industry. The representative from DG Trade explained that the Commission is exploring possibilities for sectoral agreements and the abolishing of non-tariff measures, but that all negotiations are linked to the overall development of the Doha Round. The industry representatives underlined their commitment for a multilateral trade agreement and their concern of a global rise of protectionism, also including double pricing and the access to raw materials. The final round of discussion dealt with the access to raw materials of the chemical industry. The industry representatives pleaded for a change of the regulatory environment for sugar. Commissioner Verheugen announced that the Commission is taking steps towards an EU raw materials strategy.
Before closing the meeting, Commissioner Verheugen informed about the future progress of the HLG work and the plan to produce the final report of the High Level Group for the last meeting on 19th February 2009. A smaller editing group (in which the ECRN is present) will now work on the draft version of the text.
Commissioner Verheugen also confirmed his participation to the HLG follow-up conference in Ústí nad Labem in April 2009, which is jointly organized by the ECRN and the Ústí region as part of the Czech Presidency of the EU.
The ECRN presents the profile update of its member regions as of October 2008. It provides detailed information on economic facts and figures of the European Chemical Regions as well as contact persons.
In order to download the “who-is-who” update, please click here
.
Under the patronage of the European Commission and the Czech EU-Presidency the ECRN organises together with its member region Ústí a Follow-Up Conference of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Chemical Industry in Europe. This conference will take place on the 16th and 17th April 2009 in Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic. Further information will follow on this website.
At the latest Conference of the Ministers of Economy of the German Länder on 9th/10th June 2008 in Regensburg the Ministers have welcomed the participation of the ECRN in the High Level Group (HLG) of the European Commission as representative of the regional perspective. The conference members asked, however, to generally involve the European regions more in future sector-specific dialogues on European level.
Before, the Minister of Economy of Saxony-Anhalt and President of the ECRN, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, had reported to his colleagues on the interim results of the discussions within the HLG. With regard to the general role of the chemical regions in the HLG, Mr. Haseloff pointed out that the fact that the ECRN has been appointed to a strategy dialogue as the HLG shows a growing awareness in the European Commission concerning the role of the European regions with regard to innovation and competitiveness and concerning the fact that many decisions taken in Brussels have to be implemented and initiated on a regional, not on a national, level.
Mr. Haseloff concluded that the discussions of the HLG have been characterized so far by an open and constructive climate of debate and by the fact that the problem- und result-oriented HLG conclusions are not exclusively directed at the European level, which raises the question of how to ensure a taking into account of these conclusions on all levels of policymaking in Europe in the future.
A more detailed summary of the Conference can be found here.
on the 17th June 08 in Ústí
Logistics and logistical concepts were the focus of the workshop on the 17th of June 08. The meeting was a get-together of major stakeholders of the Chemical branch from the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. Presentations on the topic of Pan-European Transport corridors, transport modes and the application for the ChemLog project were discussed by the participants. Mr Fiala, Deputy-Governor of the Ústí Region, spoke about the role of the Ústí Region as a traditional setting for chemical and petrochemical industry. Chemistry was a background to the revival of the Ústí industry, and is a major employer as well. Mr Hack, Director of the ECRN Secretariat, appreciated the activities of the Ústí Region for the network and thanked the Ústí Region for the organisation of this workshop. For further information please contact the ECRN Network Secretariat ecrn@ecrn.net
April 18th was the date when the High Level Group (HLG) met for the third time. The meeting was chaired by the Vice President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen.
Based on the draft final conclusions of the HLG Sub Group on Energy, Feedstock and Logistics and the discussion paper presented at the Sherpa Meeting on second of April the discussion in the High Level Group on this matter was conducted in four parts around the following questions:
- Further strengthening of chemical clusters and related infrastructure
- Diversification of raw materials
- How best to ensure effective and efficient global approach to climate change and
- Addressing climate change as a major business opportunity.
Regarding the issue of “Regional Aspects” the ECRN was asked by the chair to provide an input for the Sherpa Meeting on 18th of September. The ECRN wishes to use this opportunity.
The ECRN played a very active and constructive role in the discussion by developing the strategy on chemical logistics on Central- and Eastern Europe and raising the point of planning security for the chemical industry regarding the special treatment of energy intensive industries.
- for members only -
The discussion of actual developments and the planning of our 6th annual ECRN congress on the 27th of October will be the main topics of this meeting. Moreover, the cluster of Brunsbuettel will present its projects and companies to our European-wide partners. More information can be provided by the ECRN Secretariat. ecrn@ecrn.net
On the 26th of March 2008 the ECRN Association met for their annual Presidium and General Assembly meeting in Brussels. Host of this meeting was the Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the EU.
Dr. Reiner Haseloff, President of the ECRN, opened the meeting and appreciated the large interest of the member regions. The President reported on his activities and moderated the conference.
In the morning at the Executive meeting, the presidium discussed and prepared the decision taking process for the afternoon, which included the working and budget plan for 2008 as well as the state and perspective of the High Level Group. The ECRN was delighted to welcome their new regions Scotland and Rhône-Alpes in their network, as those regions gave a short presentation of themselves by their representatives.
The Director of the ECRN Secretariat in Brussels, Michael Hack, reported on the main activities of the network, gave an update of the ongoing office set up in Brussels and presented the outcome of the successful seminar "e;Future of Bulk Chemicals- Challenges for the Regions"e;.
As the major political outcome, the General Assembly adopted the joint statement on the energy and climate protection package by the EU-Commission that all member regions had placed together.
This seminar will discuss one of our main concerns: the future of bulk chemicals in Europe. We will deal with all relevant questions involved: What future role will the bulk chemicals industry play in Europe? What needs to be done to keep the bulk chemicals in Europe? Where will the bulk chemicals in Europe most probably be located? What effect would an out-migration of the bulk chemicals form Europe have on speciality chemicals? And in particular: What effect does this process have on the chemical regions?
A workshop with a special focus on the REACH-Regulation will be held on the 22nd and 23rd of November in Aachen. In this workshop, experts from all-over Europe will share their experience with the audience.
A detailed program you find here
The headline of the congress represents our main focus: "Competitive Chemical Regions in Europe".
Be part of our congress and give your input to the future of our chemical regions in Europe! During two days we will discuss and share our experience in the chemical sector in order to define our strategies for our future challenges. The Congress will take place on the 29 and 30 November 2007 at BASF in Ludwigshafen/Germany and bring together high-level representatives from politics, industry and academia to discuss major challenges for the chemical industry such as Innovation, Skills Development and Energy.For further informations please contact Michael Hack, Director of the ECRN e.V. Network Secretariat or download the Invitation to 5th Congress
The ECRN is planning its next European Congress of Chemical Regions in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland Palatinate. The Congress will take place on the 29 and 30 November 2007 and bring together high-level representatives from politics, industry and academia to discuss major challenges for the chemical industry such as Innovation, Skills Development and Energy. The Congress will be organised in the facilities of BASF. Further information about the Congress will be published on this website.
The European Chemical Regions Network has received the approval for the extension of the Interreg project until the end of the year 2007. The partners have agreed to implement a range of activities that are focused on the dissemination of results and the development of project ideas for the further intensification of cooperation. It is planned to organise the next ECRN Working Group Meeting in September 2007 in Ida Viru.
The ECRN Working Group has met in Brussels to discuss ongoing activities and priority topics for the second half of 2007. The network has received the offer to extend the Interreg Project until the end of 2007 and the partners have agreed on a work plan and budget allocation. The partners have intensively discussed the participation of the ECRN in the upcoming High Level Group on the chemical industry that should start its work in September. The ECRN wants to play an active role in representing the interest of chemical regions. The partnership has discussed the future perspective of a follow up project in the framework of Interreg IVC. It is the plan to implement the approach of European Technology Platforms "Sustainable Chemistry" at regional level. Dr. Marian Mours from Cefic has articulated its support in view of a joint cooperation. Mrs. Mirjam de Jong from VAPRO presented the results of two Leonardo projects in the chemical industry. There has been a strong interest for the joint discussion and application of results between the ECRN and the project. Simon Marsh from the European Chemical Employers Group presented the ongoing activities of the Social Dialog of the European Chemical Industry. The ECRN and ECEG have agreed to identify potential areas for joint cooperation. Finally the network partners have discussed several proposals for future cooperation project in the area Land Improvement, Skills Development, REACH Implementation, Econtent and Regions of Knowledge. The partners are committed to intensify cooperation and exchange of experience with the help of new projects.
The ECRN Presidium has meet for the first time in Antwerp to decide about the focus of network activities in the year 2007. During the event the accession of Flanders to the ECRN association has been officially celebrated. The meeting has been organised in close cooperation with Bayer and the Flemish chemical industry association. The major topics of the Presidium meeting has been the future participation of the ECRN in the High Level Group for the competitiveness of chemical industry and the contribution of the network towards the new EU Programme Regions for Economic Change. The ECRN also wants to strengthen its efforts for the development of follow up projects in the new funding period, such as FP7, Interreg IVC, Regions of Knowledge etc. The Presidium has approved two joint declarations on Energy and Regions for Economic change.
Download :
ECRN Declaration on Energy (PDF 30 KB)
ECRN Declaration on Regions for Economic Change (PDF 38 KB)
The ECRN Working Group has met in Brussels for the first time after the end of the Interreg project in order to discuss the future development of the network and the thematic priorities. The ECRN will open a network office in Brussels to strengthen its stakeholder position in the EU environment. Important topics have been the new EU energy agenda, the preparation of the HLG competitiveness of chemical industry and the perspectives of the Regions for Economic Change / Interreg IVC. Several proposals for follow up projects have been presented for new EU programmes such as Interreg IVC, Regions of Knowledge, FP7 or Leonardo that should help to deepen the exchange of knowledge between the partners and enlarge the partnership.
The ECRN Presidium has meet for the final Interreg meeting in Bitterfeld to discuss about the results of three years of cooperation and to discuss the future work of the ECRN association. In general there has been a very positive feedback on the activities of the network and the partners are looking forward towards the year 2007. Five new regions have been integrated into the ECRN and the new office in Brussels will be used to further strengthen the joint positioning in the EU decision making process.
The new ECRN Newsletter has been published with the following content
4th European Congress of Chemical Regions - Summary of Workshops ECRN Association is heading for 2007 ChemSME project team proposes future joint activities with ECRN Association Technical Study on Investment Factors in Chemical Companies Permeability in vocational education and training - an example from chemistry Regional Profiles : Huelva and Rhineland-Palatinate
The third European Congress of Chemical Regions took place on the 9 and 10 November Tarragona, Catalonia. About 150 representatives from politics, administration, science and industry used the opportunity to discuss joint challenges and possibilities for cooperation between the chemical regions. The ECRN has jointly agreed on the Tarragona Declaration that states the position on EU chemical policy, energy supply, environmental policy and regional policy. During the Congress four additional regions Flanders (Belgium), Catalonia (Spain), Limburg (Netherlands) and Ida Viru (Estonia) were accepted as new members in the ECRN Association, which will take over the work of the network from the Interreg project in the year 2007. Documentation of the Congress will soon be published on the website.
Download Tarragona Declaration (ENG) (GER).
Download Congress Summary (ENG)
For more than three years the network has developed an extensive partnership between chemical regions in Europe and is more and more recognised as a European stakeholder in actions of the European Commission, which is regularly consulted on key issues of EU environmental and industrial policy. One important objective of the network is to establish an intensive relationship to Representatives of European Institutions, Members of the European Parliament Representatives of European Regions and Representatives of European business institutions and enterprises. The European Chemical Regions Network would like to invite you to the conference to present the results of the past and ongoing work and to discuss joint challenges and activities for the future.
Download Agenda and Invitation.
One day before the Open Network Meeting in the newly opened Center of the Regions, the ECRN Working Group will meet to discuss the progress of ongoing activities. Several representatives from European Institutions have been invited to give an updated on
The European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) has organised two Training Seminars on 29 and 30 of June 2006 in Limburg to present and discuss best practice solutions from study topics undertaken by ECRN : Cooperation Science and Industry, Chemical Park Management and Land Improvement. Based on the results of the completed studies, expert in the different fields have used the opportunity to exchange their experience and jointly discuss potential solutions in several workshops. Problem and solution "owners", representatives from regional administration, enterprises and research institutes have contributed to the fruitful discussion. The results of the Seminars will soon be published in a brochure.
The new ECRN Newsletter has been published with the following content:
ECRN Presidium meets in Düsseldorf ECRN Association - Continuing the sucess ECRN Meeting in Asturias and Training Seminars in Limburg High Level Group Energy - Latest Developments Regional Partnership Meetings : NRW hosts Europe Regional Profiles from Lower Saxony and Catalonia
The ECRN Presidium has met for the 5th time in Düsseldorf, North Rhine Westphalia. Main topics of the discussion have been innovation and competitiveness in the chemical industry, better regulation, energy and emission trading and the future of interregional cooperation. The joint position of the ECRN has been summarised in the Presidium Declaration (see download below). A presentation from Dr. Gersemann from ChemSite and Mr. Pruys from ChemCologne gave a good overview about the intensive cooperation of the chemical parks and the development of the chemical cluster in North-Rhine Westphalia.
Download ECRN Presidium Declaration: ENG (pdf 44KB) DEU (pdf 44KB).
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 26 and 27 April in Asturias, Spain. During the meeting the partners will discuss the activities for capacity building and strategy development and prepare the upcoming Training Seminars. On 27 April the Training Seminar focused on the presentation and discussion of the results of the Skills study will be organised.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 9 and 10 February in Novara, Italy. Novara is the centre of the chemical industry in Piedmont region. During the meeting the partners will discuss the results of the five studies in view of capacity building and strategy development.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The 4th ECRN Newsletter contains articles on:
3rd European Congress of Chemical Regions Regional Partnership Meetings in NRW and UK (DICIDA Conference) Summary of ECRN Studies: Science and Industry, Skills, Environment and Legislation, Land Improvement Regional Profiles: Cheshire, Piedmont
The ECRN Presidium has met for the fourth time on the invitation of the Province of Limburg in Maastricht on the 22nd December 2005. After 2 years of operation, the Presidium used the opportunity to highlight the successful development of the ECRN. Mr. Litjens, Board Member of SABIC, gave a presentation about the growing activities of SABIC in Limburg. He stated the need for close cooperation at regional and European level for a positive development of the chemical cluster. The Presidium welcomed the achieved compromise for the REACH proposal, which is in most issues in line with the joint position that has been articulated in the Milan Declaration. Furthermore the Presidium has intensively discussed the challenges of Emission Trading for Chemical Regions. In the joint declaration "Better regulation for Europe" the network ask for improved policies in the area to achieve a level playing ground and solve existing problems of windfall profits and new entrants barriers.
Download Declaration: ENG (pdf 82KB) DEU (pdf 80KB).
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 23/24 November in Tees Valley, in the North East of England. During the meeting the results of the five studies that are currently implemented will be presented. On the 24 and 25 November the ECRN partners will have the opportunity to participate in the yearly meeting of the DICIDA Initiative a UK Network of chemical dependent areas.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The third European Congress of Chemical Regions took place on the 6 October 2005 in the Fiera Milano. About 250 representatives from politics, administration, science and industry used the opportunity to discuss joint challenges and possibilities for cooperation between the chemical regions. The ECRN has jointly agreed on the Milan Declaration that states the position on EU chemical policy, research and innovation, regional policy and sustainability. Documentation of the Congress will soon be published on the website.
Download Congress Volume: ENG (pdf 2,14 MB)
Download Milan Declaration: ENG (pdf 42KB); DEU (pdf 42 KB); ITA (pdf 46 KB).
Download Press Release: ENG (pdf 38 KB); DEU (pdf 39 KB); ITA (pdf 46 KB).
Presidium Meeting 12 May in Warsaw, Regional Partnership Meeting in Limburg and Lower Saxony, Mentoring European Knowledge of Chemical Regions - Summary of Results SPORT Results, Exchange of Experience - Presentation of ECRN Studies, Opening of Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Centre for Polymer Synthesis and Processing in Schkopau, Saxony-Anhalt; Regional Profiles from Saxony-Anhalt and Lombardia.
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 15/16 September in Walsrode, Lower Saxony. The Industrial Park Walsrode will host the meeting (www.industriepark-walsrode.de) . Main topic of the meeting will be the discussion about the five studies that are currently implemented and the preparation of the 3rd European Congress of Chemical Regions that will take place on the 6th of October in Milan. Furthermore the participants will use the chance to have a discussion with the local park operators and to visit the industrial park.
The results of the project "SPORT", initiated by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), several Member States as well as the European employers associations UNICE and UEAPME and the European Commission, have been presented. Under the name “Strategic Partnership for REACH Testing (SPORT)” registration procedures for 8 chemicals have been tested in order to develop concrete proposals for an improvement of the REACH system. During the last 12 moths working groups have been established under participation of downstream users and chemical producers to practically implement the proposed registration procedures of REACH. The European Commission had already announced before to integrate SPORT results in a modified proposal. The European Chemical Regions Network has been directly participating in the SPORT project as an observer.
The report and annexes can be downloaded in the following web page:www.sport-project.info
The project "Mentoring European Knowledge of Chemical Regions" is organising the final conference on the 15th June 2005 in the Representation of Asturias in Brussels. The project that is supported in the framework of the pilot action "Regions of Knowledge" will present results and conclusions from the interregional exchange of experience in topics such as chemical park management, regional research competences, European Technology Platform "Sustainable Chemistry" and regional strategies on REACH. Online registration can be completed under www.mentorchem.net.
NRW will organise the Regional Partnership Meeting of the ECRN on the 14 June 2005. The event will take place in the chemical park Knapsack.
Lower Saxony will organise the Regional Partnership Meeting of the ECRN on the 19th May 2005 in Hannover.
Based on a broad discussion and interregional consensus of the member regions, the ECRN has developed its own position for the REACH proposal of the European Commission. Taking into account the regional experience of the partners, the ECRN would like to influence the debate in the first reading of the Sacconi Report in the European Parliament. The proposal has been sent to the MEPs from chemical regions and we are looking forward to a lively debate in the upcoming months.
Based on the discussion in the MentorChem Project (www.mentorchem.net), Asturias organises a major event to discuss about the impact of REACH in the European regions. High-level representatives from Asturias will present the special challenge for the chemical sector. Speakers from Italy and Germany will present their experience to initiate the interregional exchange of knowledge.
The ECRN Working Group has met in Tallinn and Ida-Viru on the 21st and 22nd April to discuss the progress of the work. The representatives from the chemical regions were agreeing on the future thematic focus of the network activities and the implementation of five studies. On Friday the Working Group used the possibility to visit the major chemical site in Ida-Viru. The challenges of transformation and the future EU chemcial policy were in the centre of the debate with representatives from the Estonian chemical industry. The national Estonian television produced a report about the ECRN for the evening news.
The 2nd ECRN Newsletter has been published now with the following content:
Presidium Meeting 1st of December in Brussels, Regional Partnership Meeting in Saxony-Anhalt, North East of England Process Industry Cluster (nePIC!), Latest Developments in the European Chemical Policy, European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry and Regional Profiles from Asturias, North Rhine-Westphalia and Masowia.
GO-REACH is a new project aiming at development and delivery of a user support system related to the introduction of the REACH regulation on the market. For more information follow the link to projects.
ECRN publishes Who is Who of Chemical Regions with comprehensive information about regional key players in the chemical sector
European Voice organises major conference on REACH in cooperation with ECRN 26th April 2005, Brussels (Belgium)
Topics
ECRN - Presidium commences work REACH - Regions demand coherent and efficient system North East England - Innovation Centre boasts 300 years of petrochemical history Region Limburg Chemical Cluster in Province Limburg