The overall goal of this project is to establish the bases to become regions of excellence (regions that have a proven record in competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development and social cohesion through implementation of a common methodology for managing scientific and technical knowledge and innovation at the regional level). Five major goals have been identified for the project: ·Evaluate the current strengths and development perspectives for each of the regions participating in the project, in the fields of innovation, science, and technology. ·Study the feasibility of a common strategic plan for research and innovation in the A.A. ·Reinforce the influence of A.A. regions in the European Research Area (ERA). ·Define a common methodology for managing skills in science, technology, and innovation at the regional level (RIKM). ·Use the methodology in participating regions through implementation of a regional knowledge-based innovation system (RIKS). Achievements: ✔ Evaluation of the Regional Innovation Systems in the eight participating regions, and production of a comparative analysis. These evaluations and comparisons include summaries of innovative actions RIS, RIS+ financed by the EU in the regions and other scientific, technological and innovation policies, as well as other innovation policies and strategies in the regions, ✔ The development of a common strategic research and innovation programme in the Atlantic Area, ✔ A common methodology for management of regional scientific and technological and innovation knowledge (RIKM), ✔ 4 pilot actions to test this methodology by implementing a regional innovation system based on knowledge, ✔ Dissemination of information through an international conference attended by 60 people, 21 regional seminars and a website, ✔ A strategic plan to boost inclusion de the Atlantic Area in the ERA ✔ The IRE partner has signed an Inter-regional Scientific and Technological co-operation with the West Midlands Region (UK), ✔ The Spanish and Portuguese partners have joined up in a project with the producer of QUOVIS (Vexel) for automobiles for people suffering from disabilities.