JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE - SEVILLE - Carlos Ferreira de Morais Pires, representing Commissioner Mariya Gabriel

Carlos Ferreira de Morais Pires, is a Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Mariya Gabriel. He has given his address on behalf of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. In his welcoming speech, he outlines the importance of Cohesion policies combined with Research and Innovation strategies, as well as education and skills development, to pursue Europe's objectives related to the green and digital transformations.

date: 19/04/2021

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After 10 years since their introduction, Smart Specialisation instruments are still key to deliver targeted support to regions via the European Structural and Investment Funds.

This policy has become an integral part of Cohesion Policy. The relevance is confirmed by the over 120 Smart Specialisation strategies developed with high-impact investments exceeding 40 Billion Euro.

Cohesion strategies are more robust if forward looking. With the support of research and innovation as well as education and skills development, Europe can aim more effectively at its ambitious objectives related with the green deal and the digital transformation.

These components are even more relevant since we are about to start to put in motion the urgently needed post-pandemic socio-economic recovery plans.

Smart Specialisation can help regions to discover new opportunities for more sustainable and inclusive growth and seek complementarities with the EU programmes for research and innovation, in particular Horizon Europe.

The JRC is a knowledgeable facilitator for countries and regions in Europe to develop Smart Specialisation.

The Smart Specialisation Platform created by the JRC, jointly with DG REGIO, allows national and regional authorities to improve their reform national/regional research and innovation systems.

The JRC can provide “hands on” support for research and innovation ecosystems in EU regions and countries with activities defined in cooperation with the relevant administrations.

Commissioner Mariya Gabriel’s calls upon the regional and local policy makers to engage and contribute to the EU policies and priorities through specialisation strategies that look into the future.