"Transforming Territories Newsletter" Newsletter Issues

Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) (24/03/2022)

The ongoing deep transformations of production and consumption systems are a momentous occasion to innovate, build stronger economies and fairer societies. In this context the Committee of Regions (CoR) has partnered with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) to explore the development of innovation partnerships fit for the green and digital transition. The Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI) are a complementary approach, which builds on positive experiences with smart specialisation strategies. PRI aims to test tools to enhance the coordination and directionality of regional, national and EU innovation policies to implement Europe’s green and digital transitions and to tackle the innovation divide in the EU. PRI will be firmly anchored in the EU policy framework, supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal, Horizon Europe, Cohesion policy and NextGenerationEU.

The PRI Playbook and Pilot Action (24/03/2022)

The Pilot Action will involve up to 24 European territories (regions, groups of regions or Member States) who share a strong ambition to transform their economies and societies and ​​​are willing to explore renewed partnerships for Regional Innovation - PRI in the design and implementation of their own strategic policy framework dealing with innovation, industrial development, sustainability transitions and socio-economic development (e.g. their smart specialisation strategies).

Call for Expression of Interest - PRI (24/03/2022)

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is inviting expressions of interest from regions, groups of regions and Member States to participate in the CoR-Joint Research Centre (JRC) - European Commission Pilot Action on "Partnerships for Regional Innovation".

Smart Specialisation, Sustainable Development Goals and Environmental Commons (23/11/2021)

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a new transformative narrative aligning Smart Specialisation with the UN 2030 Agenda and the European Green Deal by offering directionality towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and combining different levels of policy to achieve the needed sustainability transformations. It is part of a broader effort summarizing different practical and theoretical aspects of this change and contributes to the ongoing debate and methodological underpinning of place-based innovation strategies for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing sustainability challenges and Sustainable Development Goals via Smart Specialisation (18/01/2022)

This ongoing work builds on Smart Specialisation concept of place-based research and innovation agenda for regional economic transformation. It takes into account the UN 2030 Agenda objectives (17 SDGs), the European Green Deal and aspects of social and environmental sustainability while reflecting upon the S3 framework within the context of transition studies, notably socio-technical transitions, social-ecological resilience and challenge-driven innovation policy.

Call: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education (03/12/2021)

The second call of the EIT HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education is currently open, aiming to increase the innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in higher education by bringing together Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in innovation value chains and ecosystems across Europe. The call is open until 28 February 2022.

Recap: Smart Specialisation for Sustainable Development Goals (03/12/2021)

The five days event was attended by more than 500 participants from more than 70 countries and it gathered academics, practitioners, experts and a diverse group of contributors from different backgrounds. All of the webinar meetings were based on specific publications or train of thoughts presented by the authors and looking to explore the inclusion of sustainability dimensions in the traditional S3 concept. The reports are now available for download.

Smart Specialisation in Centre-Val de Loire (14/01/2022)

The Smart Stories provide an account of the way in which territories across Europe are implementing their Smart Specialisation Strategy to promote economic transformation. The Region Centre-Val de Loire (France) presents the success factors and some of the achievements it has reached thus far, thanks to an ambitious governance system and the involvement of regional stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Fostering the green transition through Smart Specialisation Strategies (17/12/2021)

This report provides examples developed at various territorial level to foster environmentally oriented activities in the context of Smart Specialisation Strategy implementation. The report highlights how stakeholders across Europe are using the Smart Specialisation concept to deliver their own innovation-driven green transition agendas, detailing specific policy tools and incentives developed in this context. In particular, the circular economy appears as a recurring transversal driver and a source of economic gains in many territories.

Territorial impact and responses to COVID-19 in Lagging Regions (22/10/2021)

The impact of COVID-19 has been asymmetrical, and the crisis has exposed the inequality and vulnerability of certain groups and territories. Places that were more connected had earlier cases but have tended to show greater resilience, whereas weaker regions, smaller firms and disadvantaged workers have been disproportionally affected, with the negative consequences further compounding long term challenges. Lagging regions were, and continue to be, potentially particularly vulnerable to the effects of the crisis, and this paper explores the key issues and responses of a number of lagging region territories in the EU, during and immediately after the first wave hit the continent in Spring 2020.

Feedback from the EWRC workshop on European Digital Innovation Hubs (22/10/2021)

The presentations given during the EWRC workshop on "European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) and the digital transition of regions" are now available online.

Feedback on the EWRC Workshop on Regional Policy and S3 in the Neighbourhood countries (21/10/2021)

The presentations that were given in the aforementioned workshop are now available online. They depict the role of the European Union's Smart Specialisation approach in shaping Research and Innovation (R&I) and regional policies in the Neighbourhood countries.

Assessing Smart Specialisation: Policy Implementation Measures (04/10/2021)

The analysis explores how policy measures implemented under the Thematic Objective 1 “Strengthening research, technological development and innovation” of national and regional Operational Programmes, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, have incorporated key Smart Specialisation principles during the 2014-2020 programming period.

Higher Education for Smart Specialisation: Handbook Version 2 (08/10/2021)

Developed in collaboration with DG EAC, the Higher Education in Smart Specialisation (HESS) project seeks to engage stakeholders from Higher Education in regional development processes and regional innovation ecosystems to ensure places contribute to local and broader European growth and transformation. Version 2 of the HESS handbook is the result of more than four years of analysis and cooperation with regions on how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can contribute to the design and implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and builds on contributions from experts across Europe. It reflects the evolution of smart specialisation incorporating a new enabling condition under the 2021- 2027 ESIF regulations and the role that higher Education and human capital vis-a-vis the regulatory criteria.

S3 Partnership on Nutritional Ingredients (NI) is ready to welcome new partners (15/09/2021)

S3 Partnership on Nutritional Ingredients (NI) is ready to welcome new partners. Under the European Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) Agri-food Platform. The aim of the S3P NI is to develop a cross-regional partnership between agrifood and bioeconomy actors to facilitate the uptake and crossover of innovation for development and commercialisation of novel or improved functional ingredients with applications in sectors, including, but not limited to, the Food Industry.

European Digital Innovation Hubs and the digital transition of regions (12/10/2021)

As part of the #EURegionsWeek, this online workshop will present: a) the state-of-play of EDIHs in Member States and regions funded by the DIGITAL Programme; b) a new tool on measuring digital maturity of SMEs and a methodological approach for a new regional digitalisation index c) a new CoR study on how to measure digital preparedness of regions. It will be held on the 12th of October 2021.

Participatory Lab - Building smart and sustainable regions: Entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education (13/10/2021)

As part of the #EURegionsWeek, this online workshop will present and collect input for the new HEI initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. It builds on the Regional Innovation Impact Framework, developed by the JRC to assess the contribution of HEIs to their cities and regions. This workshop aims to bring together HEIs, regional authorities and other interested EWRC participants to help strengthen the links between the EIT, its innovation communities and a new generation of Smart Specialisation Strategies. It will be held on the 13th of October 2021.

#EURegionsWeek workshop on Regional Policy and S3 with the Neighbourhood countries (13/10/2021)

As part of the #EURegionsWeek, this high level workshop will explore the role of the EU's smart specialisation approach in shaping R&I and regional policies in the Neighbourhood countries. This online event will take place on the 13th of October 2021.

Coming soon: E-Talks Webinar Series - Smart Specialisation for Sustainable Development Goals (04/10/2021)

Sustainable development is a priority objective for the European Union. The JRC is organising an e-Talks Webinar Series with the aim of summarizing and exploring the theoretical background as well as the methodological and practical applications of including the sustainability dimension in the Smart Specialisation concept. The online webinar series will be organised between the 4th of October 2021 and the 20th of January 2022.

Brainstorming for Synergy - Workshop on S3 for SDGs Methodology (15/09/2021)

A brainstorming workshop for the pilot countries and regions interested to develop Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Roadmaps based on S3 methodology was held on 21 July 2021. Representatives from the pilot countries, namely Czech Republic, Serbia and Ukraine, presented and discussed the progress made on the development and implementation of a Smart Specialisation Strategy for SDGs. They received feedback and comments from high-level international experts, members of the S3 for SDGs Steering Committee.

Assessing Smart Specialisation: The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (16/06/2021)

This report presents some insights based on new evidence collected on the smart specialisation policy experience across EU regions and countries. The entrepreneurial discovery logic has recently been described as meaning “that the targeted transformation will not follow a path that is decided from the top but will be discovered as the process unfolds”. Alongside the directionality implied by smart specialisation, in terms of targeting policy and funding towards specific priorities, its distinguishing feature is precisely this dynamic unfolding process of stakeholder collaboration, as already pointed out by other scholars. Yet, precisely, how stakeholder collaboration should be stimulated and organised remains vague and highly context dependent.

Higher Education for Smart Specialisation, A Handbook (30/06/2021)

The Higher Education in Smart Specialisation (HESS) project has been developed in collaboration with DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (EAC) since 2016 and seeks to engage stakeholders from Higher Education in regional development processes and regional innovation ecosystems to ensure places contribute to local and broader European growth and transformation. Higher education - at the interface of research, education and innovation - is a key asset in boosting regional growth and green and digital transitions. In the 2021-2027 programming period there is an enhanced focus upon the development of human capital as part of the Smart Specialisation process under the ERDF specific objective “Skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship”. This handbook responds to the incorporation of the seven fulfilment criteria for good governance in smart specialisation in the new regulatory framework but from the perspective of Higher Education.

Call for Papers: Next-generation Innovation Policies: Promoting Systemic Socio-economic Transformative Change (16/06/2021)

The Research Collection proposes an in-depth look at how innovation policies of the 21st century respond to complex contemporary challenges by adopting new features that go beyond improving research and innovation systems alone and generate deep, system-wide changes in economic and socio-technical systems. Such changes emerge in priority-setting and resource allocations, in institutional setups, industrial infrastructures, technologies, production and consumption patterns, etc. to meet societal functions or needs, such as a cleaner environment, mobility, food or housing. New approaches such as Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainability (S4), next to responsible research and innovation (RRI) and mission-oriented research and innovation, are good examples of such transformative policies that bring a more systemic perspective of innovation, as well as new roles of government and governance in policy-making and policy implementation. Concepts as multi-level governance and transformational governance are examined to identify specific mechanisms that may stimulate or inhibit innovative change. Deadline for abstract submission: 15 July 2021.

The localisation of the SDGs in Europe: local and regional indicators and multilevel governance (16/06/2021)

The event "The localisation of the SDGs in Europe: local and regional indicators and multilevel governance" will take place online on the 16th of June 2021. Under the coordination of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), three international experts have elaborated specific analysis, based on the experiences of European local and regional governments that use monitoring as a tool to localise the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. The joint effort has resulted in the creation of three methodological reports that provide evidence and insights on different elements and scales. The main findings of the reports will be presented and discussed during the event.

Regional Innovation Impact of Universities in Europe (18/06/2021)

The event "Regional Innovation Impact of Universities in Europe" will bring together national and regional policymakers, higher education institutions and international experts interested in exploring how universities can increase their regional engagement and impact using the Regional Innovation Assessment Framework. It will be held online on the 18th of June 2021.

Smart Specialisation for the Blue Economy Workshop (06/07/2021)

In the light of the Commission’s adoption of the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy as an essential tool to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal whilst ensuring a green recovery from the pandemic, a joint workshop of DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and Joint Research Centre (JRC), in cooperation with DG REGIO, is being organised, dedicated to support the Smart specialisation approach in the Blue Economy field. A workshop will pave the initial step to develop Smart specialisation interregional partnerships in the Blue Economy and will address three main points: 1) Building on the experiences from the 2014-2020 S3 cooperation; 2) Preparing for the future S3 interregional partnerships for Sustainable Blue Economy; 3) The role of Macro-regional and Sea-Basin Strategies, New Horizon Missions and the BlueInvest Platform in the future Interregional Blue Economy S3 cooperation. The workshop will be held online on the 6th of July 2021 from 9:00 to 12:45 CET.

Survey on Smart Specialisation in Latin America (24/05/2021)

This survey aims to confirm the potential of the European Union (EU) concept of (smart) specialisation policy to guide innovation-driven territorial development at the regional level, in line with the principles of sustainable development. Based on the information from the survey, we will provide a robust analysis on the status, opportunities and challenges faced when implementing a regional innovation policy based on specialisation in Latin America. The survey is addressed to policy makers in Latin American countries at national and regional levels.

Technical Assistance Facility cases studies (24/05/2021)

Two case study briefs from S3P-Industry projects that have been supported by the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) are now online. Read more about the experiences and lessons learnt from the DE-REM project carried out by the Efficient and Sustainable Manufacturing partnership and from the SMBio-LNG project of the Bioeconomy partnership.

Toolkit supporting sustainability transitions under the European Green Deal with cohesion policy (31/05/2021)

This toolkit to the attention of national and regional decision-makers, offers a framework and concrete tools and methodologies that can be implemented in the context of the EU’s cohesion policy. It consists of a set of instruments and questions to guide a strategic reflection and to help deliver on the promise of the European Green Deal in the context of the future cohesion policy. Partnership Agreements and Programmes, by prioritising available support for the 2021-2027 funding period to facilitate a transition to a climate neutral, green and circular economy. It consists of a set of instruments and questions to guide a strategic reflection and to help deliver the increased ambition of the European Green Deal with the future cohesion policy.

Training Workshop in Latin America on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for SDGs (24/05/2021)

The event was a result of the joint effort of several United Nations agencies and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the framework of the working group on Capacity Building of the Inter-Agency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It took place on the 19, 20 and 21 of April 2021 aiming at policy makers, professionals, and public sector administrators working in different areas of STI policies in Latin America.

The Smart Specialisation Policy Experience: Perspective of National and Regional Authorities (24/05/2021)

This publication presents the results of a survey, launched in 2020 as part of a research project performed by the Smart Specialisation platform to gain new insights on the Smart Specialisation (S3) policy experience across the European Union (EU). Survey results provide evidence on the state of implementation, challenges and critical aspects as well as some of the results achieved by this policy experiment in view of the new Cohesion Policy 2021-2027.

Exploring Synergies between EU Cohesion Policy and Horizon 2020 Funding across European Regions (24/05/2021)

This publication presents the results of a survey, launched in 2020 as part of a research project performed by the Smart Specialisation platform to gain new insights on the Smart Specialisation (S3) policy experience across the European Union (EU). Survey results provides evidence on the state of implementation, challenges and critical aspects as well as some of the results achieved by this policy experiment in view of the new Cohesion Policy 2021-2027.

Assessing Smart Specialisation: governance (24/05/2021)

This report provides some insights on the impact of Smart Specialisation on the governance of research and innovation policy systems across EU regions and countries. The study explores the governance arrangements underpinning Smart Specialisation strategies and the changes introduced by this policy concept. It then investigates to what extent (if any) and how Smart Specialisation has been promoting better coordination and collective action.

The impact of Smart Specialisation on the governance of research and innovation policy systems (31/05/2021)

This publication explores the impact of the adoption of the Smart Specialisation approach on the governance of research and innovation policy systems. Results show that Smart Specialisation has strengthened the networks of actors involved in the policy process and made the governance of innovation policy more inclusive. Despite the general increase in pressure for coordination, the effectiveness of horizontal and vertical coordination within and across administrative levels is still weak in many territories. More efforts are needed in this area in the future, together with the strengthening of skills and resources to perform policy functions. There is evidence that Smart Specialisation has supported the production of a wide range of tangible and intangible collective goods.

Promoting technological transfer in Romania through Smart Specialisation (24/05/2021)

This Smart Story focuses on the promotion of technology transfer in Romania with the support of Smart Specialisation activities. The key RIS3 success factors include careful governance and the establishment of an efficient bottom-up partnership approach, involving all relevant stakeholders at regional level, in an extended entrepreneurial discovery mechanism.

S3 Newsletter Special Issue: Smart Specialisation for the Recovery (31/05/2021)

The special issue of the Smart Specialisation Newsletter builds on the presentations held during the 'Smart Specialisation for the Recovery' online workshop on 15 April 2021 that gathered more that 920 participants. Key policy-making protagonists in Smart Specialisation - the Committee of the Regions, the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, DG REGIO and the Joint Research Centre – agreed that Smart Specialisation has the potential to become a decisive vehicle for economic transformation towards the new green and digital economy all across the EU. The Newsletter aims to showcase the collaborative approach embraced by leading European innovation actors to bring forward the twin transition. It also seeks to disseminate these key messages to the Smart Specialisation community, and to serve as a reference document to enhance the Recovery period. In the context of the UN 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, the Green Deal works in tandem with Europe’s Smart Specialisation approach.

Higher Education for Smart Specialisation in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (01/06/2021)

As part of the Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS) project activities, the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (REMTh) has benefited from the support provided by the JRC to identify the main challenges of the region in terms of the Smart Specialisation Strategy implementation, and explore how higher education can support a thicker and more connected innovation ecosystem engaging in the Smart Specialisation Strategy. The JRC has facilitated spaces for joint reflection on how to build administrative capacity and improve Smart Specialisation governance, learn from experiences and identify actions for higher education to become more entrepreneurial and innovative.

Q&A from the 'Smart Specialisation for the Recovery' online workshop (01/06/2021)

Following the 'Smart Specialisation for the Recovery' online workshop that was held on the 15th of April 2021, a selection of Questions and Answers are tackled, as there was no room to touch upon them during the event.

Foreword from Xabier Goenaga, Head of the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit at the Joint Research Centre (19/04/2021)

Xabier Goenaga is Head of the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. In this editorial, he stresses that Smart Specialisation has the potential to become a decisive vehicle for economic transformation, fostering the new green and digital economy all across the EU, and buttressing economic recovery. It is uniquely well placed to connect EU-level policies and instruments to place-based strategies, pursuing real impact for citizens, while mitigating the risk of regions falling behind.

Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms (19/04/2021)

Elisa Ferreira is the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. In her welcoming address, she reaffirms Smart Specialisation Strategies as decisive instruments to drive cohesion policy forward, helping address new societal challenges, including economic recovery, and digital and green transitions. She also underscores their role in fostering synergies between policies and instruments, notably between between cohesion funds and Horizon Europe, provided they ensure a cohesion logic and pursue correcting asymmetries, promoting convergence and a balanced territorial development.

Carlos Ferreira de Morais Pires, representing Commissioner Mariya Gabriel (19/04/2021)

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.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions (19/04/2021)

Apostolos Tzitzikostas is the President of the European Committee of the Regions. In his keynote address, he underscores the critical role of Research and Innovation for a sustainable post-pandemic recovery. He also emphasises the potential of the regions in leveraging Smart Specialisation, notably through efficient partnerships and cooperation.

Bernard Magenhann, Deputy Director General of the Joint Research Centre (19/04/2021)

Bernard Magenhann is Deputy Director General of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Acting as Chair of the "Regions and the New Cohesion Policy" first workshop's session, he highlighted the opportunity for territories across Europe to mobilise their Smart Specialisation Strategies and implement the largest stimulus package ever financed through the EU budget, thereby turning investment into sustainable jobs and prosperity for its citizens.

Thomas Wobben, Director within the European Committee of the Regions (19/04/2021)

Thomas Wobben joined the European Committee of the Regions in 2012 as Director for Horizontal Policies and Networks and is currently the Director of Legislative Works for the COTER, ECON and SEDEC commissions. In his speech, he underlines a number of key challenges faced by Smart Specialisation, and also highlights the great potential of the concept, notably to foster place-based economic transformation, to support industrial transition and interregional value chains, as well as to promote synergies between Cohesion Policy and Horizon programmes and missions.

Nicola De Michelis, Director of Smart and sustainable growth and Southern Europe in DG REGIO (20/04/2021)

Nicola De Michelis is Director for Smart and Sustainable Development and Programme Implementation in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, in the Directorate General for regional and urban policy (DG REGIO). In his keynote speech, he identifies the pivotal components needed for Smart Specialisation to be an effective tool for economic transformation.

Mikel Irujo: Opportunities of the New Cohesion Policy (19/04/2021)

Mikel Irujo is the Regional Minister of Economic and Entrepreneurial Development in the government of the Region of Navarre (Spain) and Member of the European Committee of the Regions. In his presentation, he stresses a set of important challenges that need to be addressed in the Next Generation EU framework. He also advocates for future Smart Specialisation Strategies that would be based on interregional strategic cooperation, with the double objective of generating synergies between regional innovation and development policies, and financial instruments, and, secondly, of avoiding duplication and fragmentation at EU level.

Manuel Palazuelos: Taking stock of the implementation of Smart Specialisation: Evidence and Lessons Learned (19/04/2021)

Manuel Palazuelos is Team leader of the Smart Specialisation Platform at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, within the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit (B7). In his presentation, he underlines the lessons learned from the implementation of Smart Specialisation, with special emphasis on Governance, the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process, Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as policy implementation measures, more broadly.

Tatiana Fernandez Sirera: The experience of Catalonia (Spain) (19/04/2021)

Tatiana Fernández Sirera is Head of Economic Promotion at the Government of Catalonia’s Ministry of the Vice-presidency and of the Economy and Finance (Spain). She coordinates the Research and Innovation Strategy for the Smart Specialisation of Catalonia (RIS3CAT) and other strategic projects.

Jerker Johnson: The experience of Ostrobothnia (Finland) (19/04/2021)

Jerker Johnson is an economist, specialised in international trade and development. His work as the International Coordinator of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia (Finland) has brought him to work in the context of European cohesion policies and Smart Specialisation. He is currently involved in different international partnerships drawing lessons for Smart Specialisation and policy development for the Green Deal.

Albane Demblans, Political Assistant to the Director for “Growth and Innovation” (19/04/2021)

Albane Demblans acts as Political Assistant to the Director for “Growth and Innovation”, and Programme Manager, at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. In her intervention, she notably reflects on the importance of governance and coordination between the regional and the national level, and also of a thorough evaluation of Smart Specialisation Strategies.

Mikel Landabaso Álvarez, Director of the Joint Research Centre (19/04/2021)

Mikel Landabaso Álvarez is Director for “Growth and Innovation” and Director of the Seville site of the Joint Research Centre in the European Commission. In his address, he throws into sharp relief the role of Smart Specialisation to nurture the European recovery, and to foster the place-based pursuit and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Peter Berkowitz: The Future Role of Smart Specialisation in the Cohesion Policy (19/04/2021)

Peter Berkowitz is Head of Unit for Smart and Sustainable Growth within the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission. In his keynote speech, he emphasises the crucial role of Governance, of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process, and of Monitoring and Evaluation, in implementing Smart Specialisation.

Johan Stierna and Dario Diodato: Smart Specialisation for Recovery to the Green and Digital Economy (19/04/2021)

Johan Stierna is Team leader of the Smart Specialisation Platform, and Dario Diodato is an Economic Analyst, both working at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, within the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit (B7). They present a methodology for S4 that encompasses a bottom-up directionality towards sustainability, combined with a transformative innovation policy. It also uses the S4 Priority Compass, as a tool to help policymakers refine their policy priorities.

Christian Saublens and Mathieu Doussineau: A Strengthened Evidence-Based Approach for more Result-Oriented S3 (19/04/2021)

Between 1992 and 2016, Christian Saublens was the Executive Manager of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA). He has more than 30 years of working experience in European trade organizations. Mathieu Doussineau is a Policy Analyst at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Seville, within the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit (B7). They propose a methodology to improve governance mechanisms and the regional ecosystems, following several steps geared towards a clear intervention logic.

Monika Matusiak: Smart Specialisation for the localisation of SDGs (20/04/2021)

Dr Monika Matusiak is a Team leader on Smart Specialisation – Global Outreach, within the Territorial Development Unit (B3) of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. She supports the adaptation and application of the Smart Specialisation concept in 24 countries worldwide. In her key messages, she spotlights notably that in order to abide by the ambitious priorities of Global Agenda 2030, Science, Technology and Innovation need to be mobilised for sustainable economic growth and for addressing the societal and environmental challenges we face.

Kieran McCarthy, Member of Cork City Council and the European Committee of the Regions (19/04/2021)

Kieran McCarthy is Member of the Cork City Council and the European Committee of the Regions. In his presentation, he stresses the challenges of implementing Smart Specialisation in many regions across Europe, and highlights the experience of the Interreg COHES3ION project, to foster the territorial dimension and develop cohesive Smart Specialisation Strategies.

Juan Espadas: A Green Recovery with Smart Specialisation (19/04/2021)

Juan Espadas is the Mayor of Seville and Chair of the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy of the Committee of the Regions, and of its ‘Green Deal Going Local’ Working Group.

Markku Markkula's Key messages as Concluding Remarks (20/04/2021)

Markku Markkula is Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), having been the President in 2015-2017. He is the President of the Helsinki Region and the Chair of the Espoo City Board, and a former member of the Parliament of Finland. His professional experience focuses on knowledge creation, lifelong learning, and societal innovations.

Smart Specialisation for the Recovery Workshop (15/04/2021)

This event aims to highlight how Smart Specialisation can be an effective tool to help territories recover from the current pandemic-induced crisis and discover new opportunities for more sustainable and inclusive economies. In this endeavour, this event seeks to capture what worked and what did not work in the previous programming period 2014-2020 and identify a set of sound recommendations for the next wave of Smart Specialisation Strategies. This workshop offers a unique forum to practitioners, policy-makers and researchers for discussing concrete achievements, good practices, and challenges related to implementing Smart Specialisation approaches in EU regions.

A living lab for the sustainable energy transition ambition of the Algarve Region's S3 (05/04/2021)

This inspiring Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) implementation example draws on the ‘Culatra 2030 - Sustainable Energy Community’ initiative. Taking place on the island of Culatra in the Algarve Region (Portugal), this demonstration project covers multiple aspects of green transition. It also implements the ambititions of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), using a novel Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) to create a real-life laboratory for green transition, focusing on the specific needs of the island and capitalising on its assets.

Creating Water Technology solutions through an open innovation ecosystem with pivotal linkage to S3 (05/04/2021)

WaterCampus Leeuwarden is a dynamic open innovation ecosystem in the field of water technology, based in Friesland, Northern Netherlands. It predates the first Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) in Northern Netherlands by over a decade and has had a strong influence on the development of the S3 approach in the Region. The WaterCampus is fully involved in stakeholder discussions on the draft S3 and Northern-Netherlands ESIF Operational Programme (OP) for the 2021-2027 period. Water technology has wide application right across the priority areas of the new European Green Deal – particularly in relation to climate action, clean energy for all, resource efficient industry for a circular economy, zero pollution, preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity and developing a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system. It facilitates business investment for innovative solutions in precisely these green policy priority areas, which can collectively contribute to the paradigm shift needed for a green and resilient economy.

Baltic Sea Region – interregional cooperation on circular bio-economy (05/04/2021)

Interregional policy learning experiments in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) are demonstrating new ways to untap the potential of the bio- and circular economy, through projects focusing on trans-regional greening supported by regions’ Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3). By linking their own regional priorities to Europe-wide value chains, regional authorities around the BSR are refining S3 governance structures and extending Entrepreneurial Discovery Processes (EDP) for a more systematic cooperation on closing bio-material loops. Different BSR interregional projects have helped to reinforce cooperation, notably around key bio-circular value chains throughout the macro-region. Building on the strong momentum created and lessons learnt through partnerships during the current period, new perspectives are emerging to grasp the opportunities presented by the incipient Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) mechanism, evolving in line with the European Green Deal.

Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education: Pilot Call for Proposals (05/04/2021)

European Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are invited to design institution-wide action plans that will improve their entrepreneurial and innovation capacity across all institutional levels and empower them to become regional engines of innovation. Proposals must support the development and implementation of six actions in their institutions that lead to transformation and increased entrepreneurial and innovation capacity. HEIs working in consortia will be expected to demonstrate how they can leverage Smart Specialisation as an impetus to accelerate ecosystem integration and establishment of partnerships. Up to 23 pilot projects will be selected for support over 24 months, starting from July 2021. The call is open until 25 May 2021.

Assessing Smart Specialisation: Monitoring and Evaluation Systems (05/04/2021)

The publication aims to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation systems of national and regional authorities implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies. In addition, based on the literature review and on the evidence gathered by a S3 Platform research project, this publication draws some policy lessons with reflections for the 2021-2027 European Union Cohesion policy as regards to monitoring and evaluation.

Smart Specialisation Process Evaluation: Monitoring and Evaluation Experiences across Europe (05/04/2021)

This policy insight provides an overview of the 2020 assessment on how and to what extent Smart Specialisation monitoring and evaluation systems put in place across Europe allow and contribute to a cyclical policy learning process for improved policy design and implementation.

Rethinking the ‘Entrepreneurial Discovery Process’ in times of physical distancing (05/04/2021)

The “Entrepreneurial Discovery Process” is a key element of Smart Specialisation Strategies, referring to stakeholder involvement in policy design to ‘discover’ and identify new or existing priorities for innovation investment, based on regional strengths and emerging/projected market niches/opportunities. This report sets out the lessons learned from this experience with organising and participating in online events to support EDP, and can be divided in before-the-event, during-the-event and after-the-event. Furthermore, an ex post online survey to participants also revealed an overall high satisfaction from the participants and that the EDP online events were welcomed by the large majority of participants.

Smart Specialisation Strategies and Regional Productivity (05/04/2021)

Smart Specialisation is a place-based approach to innovation policy that underpins a significant amount of EU funding. The origins of the concept lie in the transatlantic productivity gap and a concern that previous investments in Research and Innovation (R&I) had failed to deliver commercial benefits. Following more than five years of implementation, this report contributes to the evaluation of the Smart Specialisation approach through quantitative analysis. As part of the Stairway to Excellence project, it is one of the first to assess its impact on regional productivity, based on the case of Portugal. This is done using the country’s main instrument to support corporate Research and Development (R&D) that was launched in 2007 and adapted to accommodate Smart Specialisation in 2014.

Towards a transformative S3: lessons from Catalonia, Bulgaria and Greece (30/03/2021)

There are escalating demands on economies and societies for transformational change, including, though not limited to, sustainability aspects. The European Union and global actors such as the United Nations are giving increasing attention to social and environmental sustainability. The European Green Deal is offering regulatory certainty and unprecedented resources, further supported through the recovery and resilience fund, for a sustainable transition. This paper reflects on how Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), and in particular the search for actionable policy pathways through the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP), can adapt to more fully support system-level transformation in line with insights from literatures on Sustainability Transitions, Transformative Innovation Policy, and Responsible Research and Innovation.

POINT review of Industrial Transition of Bulgaria (30/03/2021)

This report examines the transition of Bulgaria towards digitalisation with a particular focus on opportunities for the development of industrial capabilities in ICT and mechatronics that, in the spirit of the European Green Deal, jointly tackle economic and societal challenges. Building on stakeholder consultations and extensive research following the Projecting Opportunities for INdustrial Transitions (POINT) methodology of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the review explores some of the policy pathways that Bulgaria might take as it seeks to digitalise its economy and derive multiple associated benefits in terms of pervasive productivity improvements and the creation of knowledge-intensive and therefore well-paid jobs for a broad cross section of the workforce. The report provides timely insights in view of the recovery and resilience fund and the new programming period for S3.

Horizon 2020 funding: research and innovation for pandemic diseases (29/03/2021)

This brief provides an overview of health-related capabilities across the EU27 Member States and the UK in the immediate pre-COVID-19 period, in order to potentially inform future funding and policy priorities in relation to health and pandemics.

Ukraine's “Global Pilot Programme on STI for SDGs Roadmaps” working meeting (05/04/2021)

The initial event aimed to present the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for Sustainable Development Goals Roadmaps approach, promotes the discussion about possible institutional arrangements, governance, and helps pave the way to identify next development steps of the STI for SDGs Roadmap in Ukraine, by proving the adequate support to the most important needs. The STI for SDGs Roadmap is seen as a key policy-making instrument to move toward comprehensive and effective accomplishment of Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine. Development of the STI for SDGs Roadmap, based on the successful experience of the implementation of the JRC Smart Specialisation methodology in Ukrainian regions and UNIDO experience of green industrial transformation, requires development of the National Smart Specialisation Strategy for SDGs and identification of the scientific, technological and innovative potential, that could be mobilized to move towards the achievement of SDGSs, in the form of the comprehensive integrated policy set complimenting to the existing strategic framework.

Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainability: an Instrument for the Recovery (05/03/2021)

Xabier Goenaga is Head of the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission The Unit represents the JRC in European Semester country teams responsible for identifying policy challenges of the Member States and for assessing Member States´ Recovery and Resilience Plans. It evaluates the economic and labour market impacts of a number of EU programmes at regional level using the RHOMOLO model. It assesses the underlying factors behind trends at EU and Member State level regarding productivity and high growth enterprises. Recently, it took over responsibility for (i) the monitoring and analysis of regional and national Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and (ii) the monitoring and analysis of industrial innovation. In this editorial, Xabier Goenaga highlights the role of Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainability (S4) in the implementation of Recovery and Resilience Plans and in the new cohesion programming period.

Greece's Industrial Transition towards Sustainable Energy & Mobility: JRC POINT Review (08/03/2021)

Greece is setting its sight to a sustainable future that also leads to increased prosperity and greater social cohesion. Building on stakeholder consultations and extensive research following the POINT (Projecting Opportunities for INdustrial Transitions) methodology of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the review explores some of the policy pathways that Greece might take as it moves from a dependence on fossil fuels to an economy that makes greater use of renewable sources of energy, and exploits many of the opportunities that are arising in the production and use of batteries in the realms of transport and mobility, agriculture, shipping and defence.

Eco-innovation fostering the circular economy approach in the Basque Country Region, Spain (25/02/2021)

This inspiring Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) implementation example draws on the Basque Country Region’s eco-innovation initiatives. The Region’s new S3 for post-2021 will see the circular economy expanding into a transversal driver, as a result of a strengthened Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP).

Strategic Research and Innovation Partnership on Circular Economy in Slovenia (25/02/2021)

Slovenia’s Strategic Research and Innovation Partnership (SRIP) - Circular Economy is a cross-sectoral strategic cluster-type organisation, born in 2016, out of the country’s Smart Specialisation Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP). Located in the city of Maribor, in the ‘less developed’ Eastern Slovenia region, SRIP – Circular Economy is now one of the five SRIPs making up the implementation architecture of Slovenia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3). It brings together State actors, large companies and SMEs, knowledge institutions, facilitators, innovation users and NGOs in a quadruple helix approach, dedicated to addressing a major multi-faceted green challenge for society.

Interregional partnership for Sustainable Mobility using renewable Liquefied Biomethane, Lombardy, Italy (25/02/2021)

Sustainable Mobility using Biomethane - Liquefied Natural Gas (SMBio-LNG) is an innovative industrial demo case, under the Vanguard Initiative’s Bioeconomy Pilot, on turning waste into green energy for sustainable mobility. Specifically, SMBio-LNG aims to make a convincing case on the viability of sustainable trans-regional supply chains for production distribution, and sale of liquefied biomethane for heavy vehicles. Biomethane is produced exclusively from renewable sources generally considered as waste, such as manure, agricultural residues and agro-industrial by-products. The partnership involves Lombardy (IT – Leader), Emilia Romagna (IT), Piedmont (IT), North Rhine Westphalia (DE), Upper Austria (AT).

Direct citizen participation in green energy transition, Hauts-de-France (25/02/2021)

A component of the current Hauts-de-France regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) – known locally as the ‘Third industrial revolution (Rev3)’ - includes experiments to achieve an active engagement of citizens in the green energy transition. These experiments revolve around increased local ownership of green energy investments, including financial ownership. As an extension of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) at the core of the region’s S3, various instruments are being tested to ensure a strong role for citizens, together with businesses communities and public authorities, in implementation of green S3 approaches at local level.

Workshop ¨Higher Education for S3 in Greece: opportunities in 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy¨ (03/03/2021)

This workshop was organised in February 2021 in collaboration with the Regional Research and Innovation Council of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, as part of the Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS) project. This event focused on the 2021-2027 Multi-annual Financial Framework, in which Cohesion Policy will provide a new context for higher education and support EU regions in reaching the objectives of the ERDF and Cohesion Funds, developing their leadership and innovation capabilities to boost regional growth, as well as facilitating green and digital transitions.

Reflections Guiding Smart Specialisation Strategies Impact Assessment (25/02/2021)

This report aims to collect evidence on the potential impact of S3 in the quality of policy governance and innovation ecosystem, as well as, its effects in terms of growth and jobs. It is based on a collective reflection engaged with 12 territories from across Europe that was carried out from March to December 2020, and highlights different types of methodological approaches and measures that were developed and are foreseen by policy-makers to assess the impact of their research and innovation strategies at different territorial levels.

Higher Education for S3 : the case of Northern Netherlands (03/03/2021)

The JRC has carried out a case study in Northern Netherlands to explore the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the design and implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). It is one of the case studies undertaken in the Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS) project, an initiative of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.

Transition to sustainability: How’s your country doing? (03/03/2021)

The Transitions Performance Index (TPI) 2020 is the first edition of a new composite indicator, which measures the performance of countries along four transitions: economic, social, environmental and governance. Most of the TPI indicators are outcome-oriented in order to present to the public and policymakers the combined impact of the policy mix implemented in each country. Using comparable international data, the TPI covers countries representing 91 % of global gross domestic product. Using a ‘beyond GDP’ approach, it enables a comparison of country performances in progressing towards fair, equitable and sustainable prosperity.

First European Digital Innovation Hubs online Conference (04/02/2021)

More than 2.000 people from across Europe participated in the first annual European Digital Innovation Hubs Conference. Since 2016, the European Commission has supported the creation of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) and is now gearing up support to the digitalisation of Europe's economy and society with the creation of a pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). This network will support SMEs and public sector in their digital transformation including on how to benefit from very advanced technologies such as: AI, HPC, Cybersecurity and more. More than 20 parallel sessions provided inspiring keynote speeches and fostered participatory discussions. Within the Joint Research Centre, a dedicated team of the S3 Platform has been working for the last three years on supporting synergies and the territorial dimension of DIHs within Smart Specialisation innovation ecosystems.

ERSA-JRC Winter School 2021 (04/02/2021)

The European Regional Science Association in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre (Seville) had organised a Winter School featuring "Smart specialisation: linking global challenges to local implementation". Given the evolving nature of S3, it offers a unique entry point on how territorial policies can provide solutions to grand challenges in a way that lead to transformation of places that become more resilient by adapting to social, economic and environmental changes. The winter school provided PhD/Post-doc Students and young researchers with the very latest advances in regional science on the topic of place-based policies and social, economic and climate challenges.

STOA Workshop: Exploring synergies between Horizon Europe and regional policy (05/02/2021)

The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) and Horizon Europe, when operating individually, provide significant support for research, development, and innovation. Supporting synergies in their use and implementation may deliver additional gains in terms of innovation results, close the innovation gap in Europe, and promote economic growth. The presentation from Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director of the Seville site of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the video of the event that was held on 2d February 2021 are now available.

Survey: How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected RIS3 management and activities? (28/01/2021)

The Territorial Development Unit of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed a survey aimed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on RIS3 management and activities. The institutions in charge of the design and implementation of regional and national RIS3 are sent the link to the survey and are encouraged to take part in it.

Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) (05/02/2021)

To help applicants better prepare for Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) selection rounds in 2021, a second call for expressions of interest for one-on-one pre-application expert assistance for S3P-Industry investment projects is launched. The purpose of this one-day consultation held by a business expert is to offer further guidelines on how to improve the quality of information provided in the application form. This assistance is addressed to prospective applicants as well as to project promoters who consider re-applying for TAF. Stakeholders can submit their expression of interest by the 12th of February 2021 to receive support.

An intervention-logic approach for the design and implementation of S3 strategies (01/02/2021)

Smart specialisation is conceptualised as research and innovation policymaking encompassed in a holistic place-based view of development. It combines an organisational bottom-up approach with a structural approach, stressing interactions among local and international actors that participate and facilitate reflexive learning processes. The issue of governance is key and multi-level governance is instrumental for advancing with the goal of the strategy on the ground. The need to connect top-down EU policies with place-based facts and ambitions that translate into competitive advantage, generating growth and jobs, makes governance the cornerstone of the smart specialisation process. In the context of the revision of the existing strategies, the need to reassess the coherence of policy intervention is of crucial importance to address the local but also the global challenges faced by EU territories.

Smart Specialisation and Blue biotechnology in Europe (01/02/2021)

In May 2019, DG MARE and the JRC published its Blue economy Report that focuses on boosting a “blue” economy, the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, through entrepreneurship, investment, and research and innovation. In order to better understand and illustrate the new opportunities coming from the Blue economy, this report introduces the emergent sector of Blue biotechnology, ant its reference in the Smart Specialisation Strategies of 12 countries and 53 regions in the EU. A comprehensive screening of EU supported interventions in the current 2014-2020 funding period showed that € 238.6 million of EU funds have been invested in 182 projects and initiatives related to Blue biotechnology with a total budget of EUR 336 million. Smart Specialisation Strategies represent a policy instrument that favours the discovery of innovation potential, also in the Blue biotechnology.

Interregional Cooperation and Smart Specialisation: a Lagging Regions Perspective (05/02/2021)

Produced as part of the JRC Lagging Regions project, this report explores the nature and extent of mutual reinforcement between interregional collaboration and Smart Specialisation in a selection of lagging regions drawing on a survey, case studies, and events. It examines the specific challenges of interregional and international cooperation, as well as potential benefits and opportunities, that are relevant for low-growth and low-income regions.

From Digital Innovation to "Smart Tourism destination": Stakeholders' reflections in times of a pandemic (05/02/2021)

This JRC policy insight presents the main findings of an online event that took place on 30th September and 8th October 2020, organised by the Portuguese’s Algarve Region and the JRC. The workshop aimed to support the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process EDP, a key feature of Smart Specialisation. 65 stakeholders participated in the event to discuss challenges, opportunities and needs of the region in the field of the digitalisation of tourism. Lack of adequate skills, inadequate infrastructure, weak links between tourism services and others economic activities and ineffective data collection and analysis were some of bottlenecks discussed. Regional assets, new market trends and the advantage of big data analysis were the main opportunities identified.

S3 in sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities, challenges and initial mapping for Côte d’Ivoire (05/02/2021)

This article discusses the opportunities and challenges for the uptake of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in sub-Saharan African contexts. It applies the initial S3 mapping to the case of Côte d'Ivoire, one of the largest economies in the West African region. The integration of smart specialisation principles into STI and industrial policymaking can indeed open several opportunities to identify and nurture innovative activities and novel industries. Pragmatic recommendations are drawn for more effective innovation-based local development strategies in Côte d’Ivoire and the region.