The unique cooperation model used in the political field by the countries around the Baltic Sea needs to be extended to the public-private sector in order to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of the Baltic Sea Region. This was one of the main conclusions reached by the leading representatives from business, government and research within the ICT and Life-Science at the seminar "Talents on Top of Europe" at the Nordic Embassies in Berlin today.

With the knowledge society demanding an ever increasingly skilled workforce and a steady stream of talented young people, the seminar, arranged in connection with Germany's EU Presidency, highlighted key components necessary for the future success of northern Europe's knowledge driven economies.

Dr. Harald Ringstorff, President of the German Bundesrat and Minister President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, who was one of the seminar keynote speakers, stated that research and development in the Baltic Sea Region is ranking the highest in Europe. "To meet the world competition we need to improve our focus in four areas; financially to make the system strong, commercially to shorten the way from research to market, collaboration between countries and sectors, and better marketing of the Baltic Sea Region", Dr. Ringstorff summarised.

Mr Uwe Hermann from Siemens AG responded to a question about a possible German contribution to the already existing and well functioning Nordic-Baltic collaboration. To Siemens the countries in the Baltic Sea Region were a white spot on the map just a few years ago. By now we have experienced the huge potential for Siemens, right in front of our own doorstep, especially in terms of the close and professional collaboration between the business and the university sectors".

"World-class centres of excellence need to be developed through collaboration by the industry, universities and governments, strategically pooling the resources from throughout the Baltic Sea Region. The structures for such collaboration are stimulated by the Baltic Development Forum, and the first nuclei is being developed within the framework of ScanBalt", Vice President of Novo Nordisk, Børge Diderichsen said.

"It is time to create the synergy and coherence necessary to make the Baltic Sea Region the brain of Europe and a tool for its global development" said Folke Snickars, Dean of the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology.

The Seminar was arranged by the Royal Danish Embassy in Berlin, ScanBalt, Baltic Development Forum, BioTop Berlin-Brandenburg, BioCon Valley and the Nordic Council of Ministers.