The WORK-IN-NET Coordination Action (CA) exchanges and collects, analyses and spreads information on existing national activities on work-related innovations, thus paving the way for joint, transnational initiatives in the future. Our philosophy is that only by increasing the quality of work and the creativity of employees as well as a new balance of social security and flexibility of organisations, Europe will be able to meet the demands of the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.

WORK-IN-NET takes two complementary approaches throughout to improve the cooperation and coordination of national research efforts for work-oriented innovations.

• The ‘RTD management approach’ is concerned with establishing joint electronic tools for further information exchange, evaluation and benchmarking procedures for promoting learning processes, and arrangements and agreements for multilateral  research activities.

• In parallel, the ‘RTD thematic approach’ will set up pilot models for joint strategic approaches, primarily to identify and to cope with the key challenges affected by new interactions between markets and companies, social partners and public b

The aim of WORK-IN-NET is to set up sustainable communication and cooperation channels in Europe between the still fragmented national and regional research activities in the area of work-related innovation issues.

To cope with the lasting innovation, productivity and employment challenges in European countries, the focus lays on three key themes with respect to

• qualitative human resource management;
• corporate social responsibilities and cultures, and
• regional development alliances.

Information is also shared with the other member states of the EU where innovative work organisation is less advanced in order to contribute to reducing the economic and social differences between north and south, and Eastern and Western Europe.

Current National and Regional Programmes involved in WORK-IN-NET

Country	Institution	Programme
Finland	Ministry of Employment and the Economy (TEM) Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (TEKES)	- TYKES, Finnish Workplace Development Programme - Work organisation - Workplace innovation - Learning networks
	Work Environment Fund (FWEF)	- Work environment - Industrial relations, productivity
Germany	Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany with Project Management Agency of BMBF at DLR (PT-DLR)	- Competence, Health and Employability - Sustainable Company Development - Equal Opportunities and Demographic Change - New Ways of Implementation and Transfer - Interregional Alliances
	Regional Ministry of Economy and Labour, Nordrhein-Westfalen (MAGS, G.I.B.)	- Work oriented modernisation
Greece	Ministry of Development, General Secretariat for Research  and Technology	- Work and Health programme
Ireland Italy	National Centre for Partnership & Performance (NCPP) Regional Government of Emilia Romagna	- National Workplace Strategy - Workplace Innovation Fund - Regional development networks - Work environment - Health and safety - Regional social quality label
Poland	NCBIR	- Goal oriented projects
Sweden	Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA)	- Work Life Development for Sustainable Growth - Dynamic Labour Markets and Organisations - Efficient Product Development
	Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS)	- Work, chemical and physical hazards - Work, family and welfare - Stress, work and health - Labour market, qualification and discrimination