activities
Main activities of IDEASS are the following:
Promotion of innovations
On the basis of the information and interests of its partners and correspondents, IDEASS identifies and documents, through brochures and articles, innovative solutions that contribute to the human and sustainable territorial development processes. Innovations consist of products, technologies, methodologies or complex organizational systems created by local actors or by national bodies supporting territorial development. The articles produced by the programme systematically enhance the intellectual property of the authors of the innovations, guiding readers to consult the original information (web sites, documents, videos) and to establish direct contacts or collaborations. Managed as the programme's main communication tool, the IDEASS web site is freely accessible and is visited by readers of a large number of countries, contributing to enhance the great heritage of innovative knowledge for territorial and sustainable development existing worldwide.
Networking
The programme informs its partners about international awards on innovations that may be of interest in order to enhance their innovative solutions. It also reports on initiatives taken by the United Nations and other international bodies that may provide an important framework for strengthening their innovations or their territorial development practices. Through a bi-monthly newsletter the ILS LEDA International Network - associating 60 Local Economic Development Agencies in 17 countries - sends the Agencies a selection of innovative solutions documented by IDEASS to stimulate the enterprises and other actors in their own territories. Since 2015 also the INNER International Network of Bio-districts and Eco-Regions, in collaboration with IDEASS sends to its associated experiences a monthly Newsletter presenting innovative solutions that stimulate the work of implementing territorial agro-ecological systems. The programme contributes to enhance contacts and new initiatives among the actors that participate in its activities.
Strategic Projects
IDEASS participates in strategic projects for sustainable territorial development carried out by the KIP International School in collaboration with different partners. Within the framework of these projects IDEASS gives its specific contribution by promoting the innovations documented on its website and supporting the actors in the identification and documentation of local innovations, to ensure their valorization at national and international level. Within the framework of training projects (Training courses, Masters and Doctorates) realized by the KIP International School in collaboration with various universities, IDEASS presents the innovations documented on its website as examples of solutions that can contribute to foster sustainable territorial development processes in the context of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations.