"Transforming Territories Newsletter" Newsletter Issues

Outcome of the S3 Thematic Platforms Days (11/12/2018)

Last November, the "S3 Thematic Platforms Conference and Meetings" held in Bilbao (Spain) brought together more than 250 participants: partners from the three Thematic Platforms on Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation, representatives of the European institutions working on the development of Smart Specialisation Strategies across Europe, as well as thematic experts. Co-hosted by the Basque Country, this event consisted of a joint S3 Thematic Platforms Conference in which all platforms participated as well as three separate platform-specific meetings. All presentations are available online.

Peer eXchange and Learning (PXL) Workshop on S3 Governance (31/01/2019)

In the next Peer eXchange and Learning (PXL) workshop EU countries and regions are invited to reflect on the institutional conditions, procedures and methods for the design and implementation of RIS3. Östergötland (Sweden), North Karelia (Finland) and the North-West region (Romania), will present their experience in the governance of the Smart Specialisation Strategies. This event will take place on 31 January 2019 in Linköping (Sweden). A report with the main items of discussion will be published after the meeting.

Supporting SMES development in the Region of Central Macedonia, Greece (10/12/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which stakeholders across Europe have used the Smart specialisation concept to develop their own innovation-driven development policies at national and regional level. The Region of Central Macedonia, Greece, has developed a robust strategy to overcome key territorial challenges. The region provides an account of the support mechanism it has put in place to support SMEs in their effort to enter new markets and gain international recognition, while strengthening regional and interregional links and ties.

Southwest Finland's Smart Blue Growth Partnership (12/11/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which stakeholders across Europe have used the Smart specialisation concept to develop their own innovation-driven development policies at national and regional level. Southwest Finland provides an account of the ways in which S3 is helping the region in consolidating cooperation among regional stakeholders through the Blue Growth Network, in coordination with other regional priority areas. It also sheds light on the benefits of participating in the Baltic Sea Region programme as well as on their human capital strategy to attract qualified workforce into the region.

Expressions of interest: European Social Economy Regions 2019 (31/01/2019)

The European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs is launching the second edition of European Social Economy Regions with the aim of building effective networks of social economy and social innovation stakeholders. Deadline for application is on 31st of January 2019.

Vocational Training and Smart Specialisation Strategies (11/12/2018)

The Basque government (Spain) has published a study on “Vocational Training and Smart Specialisation Strategies” in the Ekonomiaz review. Most of the articles are in Spanish and Basque with a summary available in English.

Outcome from the First Global Workshop on Smart Specialisation (31/10/2018)

The first international workshop on Smart Specialisation, "Smart Specialisation from the EU to the world", took place on 25 September 2018 in Seville (ES). The event brought together around 100 Smart Specialisation actors and experts - including policy-makers, researchers, representatives from international organisations and practitioners - from more than 30 countries on the five continents. Overall, the workshop clearly showed that Smart Specialisation does not only have an added value at European scale, but also at global level, as a driver of place based economic transformation agendas. Key messages and lessons learnt from this global appointment together with the web streaming are now available online.

Peer eXchange and Learning (PXL) Workshops' Reports (31/10/2018)

The reports from the Peer eXchange and Learning (PXL) coordinated by the JRC in 2018 are now available. They summarise the main findings and recommendations arising from the different peer review workshops organised on S3 policy instruments, the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process, multi-level governance and monitoring. These workshops allowed more than 200 representatives from national and regional authorities to discuss and reflect on crucial aspects of the RIS3 implementation, together with JRC colleagues, stakeholders and experts in each of the fields.

Insight from the MOOC on Monitoring S3 (30/10/2018)

More than 1,100 stakeholders have enrolled for the Massive Online Open Course on "Monitoring Smart Specialisation Strategies" offered by the S3 Platform. 15% participants have completed the course (on average, MOOCs reached only 7 to 10% full completion). Any interested person can follow the course for free and further learn about output and result indicators, data sources, stakeholder engagement with various practical examples on effective monitoring.

Digital Innovation Hubs Annual Event (27/11/2018)

The European Commission, the Polish Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Technology, and the EU-funded initiative I4MS organise this annual event which aim is to reinforce the capacity of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) to support European companies in their digital transformation. EU SMEs, start-ups, research and technology organisations, DIHs and policy-makers are invited to participate. Commissioner of Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel and Entrepreneurship and Technology Polish Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz will open the two-day conference which will count with a exhibitions and matchmaking opportunities. The event takes place in the context of the preparation for the proposed Digital Europe Programme, where Digital Innovation Hubs will play a key role. It will be held on 27-28 November 2018 in Warsaw (PL).

Stairway to Excellence project: Learning Lab (11/12/2018)

Within the framework of the Stairway to Excellence project, JRC Seville and DG REGIO, in close cooperation, are organising a workshop that will focus on learning from EU territories experiences on capacity building for business and research to increase participation in the Framework Programme (H2020/Horizon Europe). The specific topics considered for the Lab include human capacity and skills and multi-level governance framework for various support mechanisms. Open to all national and regional administrations across the EU, it will take place on 11th December 2018 in Madrid (ES).

S3 Thematic Platforms Days (27/11/2018)

The S3 Thematic Platforms Conference and Meetings will be held on 27 and 28 November 2018 in Bilbao, Spain. This two-day event will bring together partners from the three Thematic Platforms - Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation -, representatives of the European Institutions working on the development of Smart Specialisation Strategies across European Regions and thematic experts. Co-hosted by the Basque Country, the event will consist of a joint S3 Thematic Platforms Conference on ways to work together, as well as separate platform-specific meetings.

Reminder: Higher Education for S3 Peer Learning Workshop (21/11/2018)

The first HESS Peer Learning Workshop will be hosted by the Centre Val Loire region with the objective of sharing the project case studies, their approaches and outcomes. The JRC will present the (forthcoming) HESS Handbook centred on six core elements to reflect upon: HE systems, HE careers, the EDP, governance, funding and monitoring. Four regions, Centre-Val de Loire, Navarre, Puglia and North-East Romania, will share the opportunities and obstacles in building regional partnerships in the context of Smart Specialisation. It will take place on 21 November 2018 in Orléans (France).

European Week of Regions and Cities 2018: S3PEnergy's Feedback (05/11/2018)

The Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy (S3PEnergy) held a special session entitled "Development of the Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy" dedicated to the promotion of trans-regional learning on energy initiatives, on the 10th of October 2018 during the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) in Brussels.

RIS3 Monitoring: Challenges and Lessons Learnt (31/10/2018)

Representatives from Lithuania (LT), Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT) and Lower Austria (AT) presented their current work on Monitoring for Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) in a PXL workshop in Vilnius (LT). Organised by the Smart Specialisation Platform of DG JRC in collaboration with MOSTA (Research and Higher Education Monitoring and Analysis Centre), it gathered 50 representatives from public administration, academic institutions and experts who discussed the challenges and key lessons learnt, based on their experiences at country and regional level. The presentations and related documents are available online and a feedback report will follow shortly. The next PXL Workshop will be organised in January 2019.

Latest S3 Platform Registrations (30/10/2018)

The latest Smart Specialisation Platform members are Kosovo (XK), Midi-Pyrénées (FR), Southern Denmark (DK), Sud-Vest (RO) and Transcarpathia (UA). In total, 18 EU Member States and 6 non-EU countries as well as 177 EU and 16 non-EU regions have registered. Any interested country or regions interested to join can send a formal request.

Feedback from the Defence and Dual-Use Technologies Workshop (31/10/2018)

The presentations from the workshop are now available online. Feedback from the Defence and Dual-Use Technologies Symposium This symposium was organised jointly by the European Commission and the Agency of Innovation and Development of Andalusia (IDEA). It aimed at supporting the synergies between ESIF and European Defence Fund, together with Horizon 2020, COSME, Erasmus+ and other relevant funding instruments. It also sought to further strengthen the European defence and industrial base whilst enhancing regional competitiveness, ensuring growth and employment, and improving European strategic autonomy. The presentations from the workshop are now available online.

Smart Specialisation at Work: Assessing Investment Priorities (05/11/2018)

This paper provides a methodology to assess how national and regional authorities define their research and innovation investment priorities for smart specialisation. It then tests the methodology empirically, based on a significant sample of research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation from Italy and Poland.

Digital Innovation Hubs in Smart Specialisation Strategies (31/10/2018)

This report examines the synergetic place-based relationships of Digital Innovation Hubs and Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in selected European regions, with DIHs being the policy outcome of the S3 process or an active actor participating in the Entrepreneurial Discovery Processes (EDP).

Smart Specialisation in the World: Country Factsheets (05/11/2018)

Within the range of S3Worldwide activities, the Smart Specialisation Platform has elaborated a series of factsheets for eight non-EU countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. These fiches aim at providing an overview of how the Smart Specialisation concept is acquiring global relevance through concrete action. For this purpose, they include key information and data on the macroeconomic situation of the country, bilateral cooperation frameworks with the EU, strategic partners and initiatives, Smart-Specialisation related projects, and activities and achieved results.

Athens, Winner of the 2018 European Innovation Capital (07/11/2018)

The Greek capital used innovation to overcome the economic and social crisis of its past years. The European Commission recognised Athens' extraordinary efforts and awarded it with the title of the European Capital of Innovation 2018 and a €1 million prize. The runner-up cities - Aarhus (Denmark), Hamburg (Germany), Leuven (Belgium), Toulouse (France), and Umeå (Sweden) - received €100,000 each. The prize money will be used to scale up local innovation activities and work together with other cities.

Smart Stories: Baltic Sea Region-wide Research-Business Cooperation (06/11/2018)

The Smart Story developed by the Kainuu Region in Finland entitled "Sparsely populated areas benefit from macro-regional research-business cooperation" has been enriched recently with a more detailed article that describes the way in which this sparsely populated area has strengthened transnational cooperation in the context of Smart Specialisation.

Call to Participate to the European Industry Open Doors 2019 (05/02/2019)

The European Commission is looking for organisations to participate in the EU Industry Open Doors 2019 – part of the third edition of EU Industry Days, taking place on 5-6 February 2019 in Brussels. The aim is to provide the public, and especially young people, with the opportunity to visit industrial companies and factories across Europe to learn about the vital role industry plays in their lives and the economy. Deadline for application is 15 January 2019; proposals will be considered as they arrive.

Editorial by Markku Markkula (15/10/2018)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Markku Markkula is the First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) having served as President from February 2015 to July 2017. In this editorial, he shares his views on the future of innovation driven territorial policies in Europe.

S3 Thematic Platforms Conference and Meetings (27/11/2018)

The S3 Thematic Platforms Conference and Meetings will be held on 27 and 28 November 2018 in Bilbao, Spain. This two-day event will bring together partners from the three Thematic Platforms - Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation -, representatives of the European Institutions working on the development of Smart Specialisation Strategies across European Regions and thematic experts. Co-hosted by the Basque Country, the event will consist of a joint S3 Thematic Platforms Conference on ways to work together, as well as separate platform-specific meetings.

First Feedback from the 2018 SMARTER Conference (15/10/2018)

The 2018 SMARTER Conference offered an opportunity to more than 150 delegates from both EU and non EU countries, including academics, practitioners, policy-makers and European Commission representatives, to discuss the potential of Smart Specialisation to promote economic transformation, the strengthening of institutional capacities and innovation ecosystems in regions across the EU and beyond. Implementation challenges and early results were also addressed. The conference's materials are now available on-line, including presentations from plenary and parallel sessions, scientific papers, and web streaming of the videos.

Training Workshop for Pilot Lines (12/11/2018)

The European Pilot Production Network is bringing together 142 pilot facilities and 41 Projects on nanotechnology and advanced materials. The first day will be dedicated to a “Pitch Training Workshop for NanoMarket”, and the second day to the “Regions and Policy Working Group Meeting”, with the aim to discuss various activities such as exploring synergies between national and regional initiatives including S3 RTDI Programming, identifying value chain and ecosystem development needs related to pilot plants, and further integration support. The second EU Pilot production Network Workshop will be held on 12 and 13 November 2018 in Brussels. Prior registration is required.

Higher Education for Smart Specialisation: Peer Learning Workshop (21/11/2018)

The first HESS Peer Learning Workshop will be hosted by the Centre Val Loire region with the objective of sharing the project case studies, their approaches and outcomes. The JRC will present the (forthcoming) HESS Handbook centred on six core elements to reflect on: HE systems, HE careers, the EDP, governance, funding and monitoring. Four regions, Centre-Val de Loire, Navarre, Puglia and North-East Romania, will share the opportunities and obstacles in building regional partnerships in the context of Smart Specialisation. It will take place on 21 November 2018 in Orléans (France).

Addressing the Innovation Gap: Lessons from the Stairway to Excellence project (11/10/2018)

This report summarises the main outcomes of the initial phase of the Stairway to Excellence (S2E) project, between June 2014 and January 2017. These include the EU13 S2E Country Reports – produced by independent experts and providing analysis on the optimal use of key European R&I funds; and the Joint Statements covering the key issues and main conclusions arising at a series of dedicated national events. Examining the common issues and actions frequently arising in project activities, the report summarises the main bottlenecks and possible policy actions along three dimensions; quality of R&I governance, capacity building, and innovation and commercialisation.

Launch of the EU Battery Alliance to build a strong industrial value chain (15/10/2018)

The European Battery Alliance is part of the Energy Union Strategy and aims at strengthening clean mobility, fight climate change and reduce dependencies deriving from energy imports. Led by Slovenia and gathering Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle Aquitaine in France, Andalusía, Basque country and Castilla y León in Spain and Lombardy in Italy, this interregional partnership will receive tailored support from the Commission to develop and scale-up joint projects in advanced materials for batteries, under the smart specialisation pilot action for interregional innovation.

2018 RegioStars Awards (15/10/2018)

The list of RegioStars awards is now available and includes: 1) Supporting smart industrial transition: Business and Shared Services Centre in the town of Fundão, Centro region, Portugal; 2) Transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy: TeKiDe - textile fibre recycling project in Helsinki-Uusimaa, Finland; 3) Better access to public services: Social Housing in the City of Ostrava, in the Czech Moravian-Silesian region; 4) Addressing the migration challenge: Labour integration & social inclusion of refugees, in the Spanish region of Murcia; 5) Investing in cultural heritage: Nant Gwrtheyrn village in the north west Wales coast (United-Kingdom) which has been restored to become a cultural centre.

Seminar on State Aid in Research, Development and Innovation (26/11/2018)

The new thematic seminar on State aid in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) is targeted towards practitioners involved in the management of the European Structural Investment Funds who have knowledge of State aid in RDI projects. It will take place on 26 November 2018 in Brussels.

Save the date: 10th EUSBSR Annual Forum in Gdansk (12/06/2019)

The 10th Anniversary of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) will be hosted by the Pomorskie Region together with the Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation in close collaboration with the European Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and other partners. About 800 participants from governments, international organisations, NGOs, universities, local and regional administrations and businesses will come together to discuss developments and challenges in the Baltic Sea Region. It will be held on 12 and 13 June 2019 in Gdańsk (Poland).

Editorial (07/09/2018)

Alessandro Rainoldi is Head of the Territorial Development Unit within the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). His unit includes the Smart Specialisation Platform. In this editorial, he shares his views on the role of the JRC as knowledge manager on Smart Specialisation.

2018 SMARTER Conference (26/09/2018)

The 2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation and Territorial Development offers a comprehensive picture of the Smart Specialisation policy experience, including an evaluation of its early results, and highlights recent developments. Particular attention will be given to implementation challenges and ways to address them. In addition, the conference will explore how Smart Specialisation engages with global value chains and production networks, and how firms, regions and cities can benefit from relationships across borders. By gathering around 150 participants, including researchers, policy-makers and practitioners from Europe and beyond, the Conference will provide a unique and lively setting to explore the current status and future perspective of the Smart Specialisation policy concept. It will take place in Seville, Spain from 26 to 28 September 2018, as we flagged in past editions of the S3 Newsletter. Please note that attendance is by registration only (note that registration is now closed) and that the conference can be followed via web streaming.

Smart Specialisation: from the EU to the World (25/09/2018)

The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission organises the first global workshop on Smart Specialisation (S3) that will take place ahead of the 2018 Smarter Conference. Building on European experience, S3 is increasingly being considered a driver of regional economic transformation policies in several countries and regions around the world. This workshop aims to showcase the main developments of various non-EU countries in the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Africa in the implementation and/or adaptation of the S3 approach, bringing together the S3 worldwide community, learning from experience and exploring possible cooperation between the participating institutions. It will give a unique opportunity to bring together recognised academics, experts from international organisations, S3 policy-makers and practitioners, as well as representatives from the European Commission. It will take place on 25 September 2018 in Seville, as we flagged in past editions of the S3 Newsletter. Please note that attendance is by registration only (note that registration is now closed) and that the workshop can be followed via web streaming.

Discover the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies' Activities (26/09/2018)

The Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies supports a number of dedicated and specialised platforms and models that are used to generate and exchange information with stakeholders and partners (e.g. RHOMOLO, LUISA, Strat-Board, Urban Data Platform, T-Board), alongside the S3 Platform. While these platforms and models differ in specific focus, they have one common denominator: a territorial outlook. The KC TP organises a workshop preceding the 2018 Smarter Conference on 26 September 2018 morning. Participants will be provided with a fundamental understanding of what the KC TP is and what it does, so that they will be able to use or refer to the platforms/models in a basic way. Please note that registration is now closed.

European Week of Regions and Cities (08/10/2018)

The European Week of Regions and Cities gathers a broad spectrum of actors showcasing their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and emphasise the role of the local and regional level in the European governance process. On this occasion, members of the Smart Specialisation teams will address a wide range of topics including the Smart Specialisation Platforms for agri-food, energy and industrial modernisation and the integration of SMEs in interregional partnerships, skills for S3 and the role of Higher education. It will be held from 8 to 11 October 2018 in Brussels.

Save the date: PXL Workshop on Monitoring for S3 (23/10/2018)

The Peer eXchange & Learning (PXL) workshop on Monitoring for Smart Specialisation Strategies is organised by the Smart Specialisation Platform in co-operation with the Lithuanian Research and Higher Education Monitoring and Analysis Centre (MOSTA). Lithuania (LT), Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT) and Lower Austria (AT) will present their experiences in monitoring. It will take place on 23 October 2018 in Vilnius (Lithuania). It will follow the "Smart Specialisation: Progress and Future Prospects" event organised by MOSTA on 22 October 2018.

Defence and Dual-Use Technologies 2018 (03/10/2018)

The European Symposium "Synergies between EU funding for defence and dual-use research and innovation" aims to support the synergies between ESIF and European Defence Fund, Horizon 2020, COSME, Erasmus+ and other relevant funding instruments that can further strengthen the European defence and industrial base, whilst enhancing regional competitiveness, ensuring growth and employment, and improving European strategic autonomy and the security of its citizens. The event is open to regional authorities and stakeholders interested in this topic. It will take place on 3d and 4th of October in Seville, Spain. Deadline for registration: 27th September.

Briefings from the Workshop: "Insights on Assessing the S3 So Far" (23/07/2018)

The workshop: "Insights on assessing the Smart Specialisation experience so far" gave the opportunity to gather experienced practitioners who provided insightful feedback of their experience of S3 implementation to date and reflected together on better RIS3 design for the upcoming programming period. Most of the PowerPoint presentations are now available.

S3P for Agri-Food First Working Committee (07/09/2018)

The 1st working committee of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Agri-Food took place on June 2018 in Seinajoki(FI). It gathered over 60 participants, including the leading regions of the 5 qualified agri-food partnerships, relevant EC Directorate Generals, key actors of the ecosystem (EIB, Interreg Europe, EIT), experts and observing regions. It gave partnerships the opportunity to present their work to date, express the challenges they face, share experiences and learn from each other. They also learn from relevant EC services about current policy developments in their areas of interest, EC's budget proposals for the next multi-annual financial period (2021-2027) and potential funding opportunities for interregional collaboration. The next semi-annual working committee meeting will take place on 27-28 November in Bilbao (ES) and includes for first time interactive sessions between the three existing S3 thematic platforms (Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation).

Smart Stories: the Case of the "S3-4AlpClusters" in Salzburg (05/07/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which S3 stakeholders have used the Smart specialisation concept to develop their own innovation-driven economic transformation policies at national and regional level. This month, Salzburg (Austria) presents the S3-4AlpClusters project that supports the framework conditions for cross-sectoral and interregional cooperation.

STRAT-Board, an Interactive Tool for Integrated Urban & Territorial Strategies (07/09/2018)

STRAT-Board is an interactive mapping tool that provides a visual overview of Sustainable Urban Development (SUD) and Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) strategies currently implemented across Europe. So far, almost one thousand strategies have been mapped within 28 countries. STRAT-Board has been jointly developed by DG REGIO and DG JRC under the umbrella of the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies. The tool allows users to explore strategies on different geographical levels (from countries to localities), as well as by different attributes, such as spatial focus, thematic concentration, size of population, funding arrangements and implementation mechanisms. The pre-release is now publicly accessible. New attributes will be added over time.

Guidance on Public Procurement (27/08/2018)

The European Commission has published a guide to support public officials across the EU to adopt best practices in public procurement of projects funded by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and beyond. Available in all languages, it covers the process from A to Z, from the preparation and publication of the calls to the selection and evaluation of bids and the contract implementation.

Panorama - Cohesion Policy: Powering Ahead to a Smarter Future (05/07/2018)

This issue of Panorama magazine considers the European Commission’s proposed budget for the 2021-2027 funding period. It highlights Regiostars' finalists and also includes a zoom on Ireland, which is currently celebrating 45 years of EU membership.

S3 in Mexico (10/09/2018)

The weekly economic review "El economista" has recently published an article based on a speech by Jürgen Haberleithner, visiting scientist in the S3 Platform and invited expert by the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT), given recently to more than 3000 innovation investors, policy-makers and other stakeholders during the Sixth National Congress GINxti in Mexico City.

Regional Development and Cohesion Policy 2021-2027 (04/06/2018)

For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission proposes to modernise Cohesion Policy, the EU's main investment policy and one of its most concrete expressions of solidarity. The main features of the Commission's proposal for a modernised Cohesion Policy are: 1) A focus on key investment priorities, where the EU is best placed to deliver; 2) A Cohesion Policy for all regions and a more tailored approach to regional development; 3) Fewer, clearer, shorter rules and a more flexible framework; 4) A strengthened link with the European Semester to improve the investment environment in Europe.

Regions and cities call for Smart Specialisation 2.0 built on interregional cooperation (24/05/2018)

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls on the European Commission to take smart specialisation one step beyond in the next budget period, by initiating a phase 2.0 based on developing a "regional discovery process".

New partnerships under the Industrial Modernisation Thematic Platform (04/06/2018)

There are four new partnerships under the Industrial Modernisation Thematic Platform in the areas of cybersecurity, social economy as well as two upcoming in artificial intelligence & human machine interface and personalised medicine.

Workshop: "Insights on assessing the Smart Specialisation experience so far" (11/06/2018)

Organised by the S3 Platform, this event will gather a small group of experienced practitioners that will provide insightful feedback of their experience of S3 implementation to date and will reflect together on better RIS3 design for the upcoming programming period. Emphasis will be given on: 1) An overview of strengths & weaknesses witnessed so far, as well as threats and opportunities that may be emerging, based on the experience accumulated so far with the S3 process; 2) Lessons learned by regions and main pitfalls observed for each of the six steps described in the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) guide; 3) Recommendations for a continuous improvement of the RIS3 with a view to better designing the strategies after 2020; 4) Capacity (e.g. in terms of human resources) needed to successfully design and implement a RIS3. Registration is now closed.

Reminder: S3P Agri-food Semi-annual Working Committee Meeting (11/06/2018)

All regions participating in agri-food thematic partnerships are invited to the S3P agri-food semi-annual working committee meeting. It will bring together the European Commission services and representatives of all agri-food thematic partnerships and will offer lead and partner regions an opportunity to: • assess the progress of each partnership and discuss any ongoing/future challenges; • obtain information on possible synergies with other initiatives, (e.g. Interreg, EIT Food or EIB); • discuss and share strategic guidance for the next period on key issues such as building synergies with EU funding programmes, overcoming regulatory obstacles for investment, understanding financial instruments, and skills. It will take place on 11th June 2018 in Seinajoki, Finland. Please register online (open to participating regions only).

Smart Stories: Wielkopolska – innovation policy under construction (04/06/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which S3 stakeholders have used the Smart specialisation concept to develop their own innovation-driven development policies at national and regional level. This month, the Wielkopolska region (Poland) provides an account of the ways in which it promotes its innovative potential, involving a wide range of actors.

S3 and social innovation in the energy field (24/05/2018)

This publication highlights ongoing tendencies of Social Innovation in the EU in relation with the smart specialisation approach, with a focus on the energy field, in particular on renewable energy production, energy efficiency measures, and heating and cooling. The paper is part of the policy support provided by the Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy (S3PEnergy) to EU regions and member states.

Smart Specialisation and the digitalisation of European industry (03/05/2018)

In this editorial, Dr. Max Lemke, Head of the "Technologies and Systems for Digitising Industry" Unit, within the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) of the European Commission, shares his view of Smart Specialisation and the digitalisation of the European industry.

Call for interest: S3 and skills (04/05/2018)

Ensuring the supply of relevant skills is an essential yet neglected part of the S3 policy mix. Skills can be developed within the region or sourced from outside, they can be a result of formal education or gained in the workplace. DG JRC has teamed up with DG Employment to organise a peer review workshop in Brussels in September 2018 for regions to learn more about how policies for Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Adult Learning can be harnessed to implement S3. We would very much like to hear from regions who have an interest in this theme – either to make a presentation or to listen to what others have to say. If you are interested please send us an email.

Last opportunity to submit abstracts for the 2018 Smarter Conference (17/05/2018)

The conference offers a comprehensive picture of the smart specialisation policy experience and highlights recent developments both conceptually and empirically. Particular attention will be given to implementation challenges and ways to address them, as well as to methodologies for impact assessment. It will also explore how smart specialisation engages with global value chains and production networks, and how firms, regions and cities can benefit from cross-border interactions. It will take place from 26th to 28th September 2018 in Seville (Spain). Deadline for submitting abstract and complete special session proposals: 17th May 2018.

3rd Steering Committee of the S3P for Industrial Modernisation: Reports (07/05/2018)

The 3rd Steering Committee of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation took place on 12th April 2018, in Rovaniemi (Finland). The presentations from the leading regions of the 10 qualified partnerships, various European Commission services, Interreg and one invited expert are now available online.

HESS: Partnerships for Regional Transformation (05/06/2018)

This conference will show how regional partnerships including universities and other higher education institutions can drive smart specialisation. It is the result of two related projects: Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS), managed by the European Commission's DG Joint Research Centre in cooperation with DG Education and Culture, as well as "Thinking Smart", an Erasmus+ funded consortium of European HEIs. It will take place of June 5th 2018 in the Committee of the Regions, Brussels.

S3P Agri-food Semi-annual Working Committee Meeting (11/06/2018)

All regions participating in agri-food thematic partnerships are invited to the S3P agri-food semi-annual working committee meeting. It will bring together the European Commission services and representatives of all agri-food thematic partnerships and will offer lead and partner regions an opportunity to: • assess the progress of each partnership and discuss any ongoing/future challenges; • obtain information on possible synergies with other initiatives, (e.g. Interreg, EIT Food or EIB); • discuss and share strategic guidance for the next period on key issues such as building synergies with EU funding programmes, overcoming regulatory obstacles for investment, understanding financial instruments, and skills. It will take place on 11th June 2018 in Seinajoki, Finland. Please register online (open to participating regions only).

Food safety 2020 (13/06/2018)

All participants of the S3P Agri-food Semi-annual Working Committee meeting are invited to register and participate in the Food Safety 2020 event taking place on 11-13 June 2018 at Seinajoki University of Applied Sciences. The event is organised by the ERIAFF network and will focus on the following three themes: High Tech Agriculture, Nutrition, and Big Data. Furthermore, the S3 Platform envisages to organise a "Peer2Peer Café: Learning together" session on the 13th of June as part of the ERIAFF event.

Save the date: International workshop on S3 Worldwide (25/09/2018)

On 25 September 2018, one day before the start of the 2018 SMARTER Conference, DG JRC will host a ground-breaking international workshop dedicated to the developments and potential of Smart Specialisation worldwide. Building on European successes and experiences, Smart Specialisation is increasingly being considered a driver of decentralised innovation policies. So far, it is present at different levels of implementation in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Norway and Peru, and is gaining traction in China, the United States of America, Canada and Africa, among others. The objective of this workshop is to showcase the main developments of various non-EU countries in the implementation and/or adaptation of Smart Specialisation, and to bring together the Smart Specialisation worldwide community. It will gather the participation of recognised academics, experts from international organisations, policy-makers and practitioners, as well as European Commission representatives and representatives from the European Union External Action Service.

Discover the activities of the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies (26/09/2018)

The Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies (KC TP) supports a number of dedicated and specialised platforms and models that are used to generate and exchange information with stakeholders and partners (e.g. RHOMOLO, LUISA, STRAT Board, Urban Data Platform, T-Board), alongside the S3 Platform. While these platforms and models differ in specific focus, they have one common denominator: a territorial outlook. The KC TP organises a dedicated session preceding the 2018 SMARTER Conference on the morning of the 26th of September. Participants will be provided with a fundamental understanding of what the KC TP is and what it does. Next to a general understanding, the specific platforms/models will be elaborated upon, so that afterwards participants will be able to use or refer to them in (at least) a basic way. Attendance is free but prior registration is required. Please note there is limited seating available.

Smart Stories: research-business cooperation in sparsely populated areas (03/05/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which S3 stakeholders have used the Smart specialisation concept to develop their own innovation-driven development policies at national and regional level. This month, an account from the Kainuu region (Lapland) is presented, outlining their internationalisation policy experience and the Baltic TRAM project, that aims to foster research-business dynamics in the smart specialisation context across the Baltic Sea Region.

Commitment to S3 adoption in the Western Balkans (07/05/2018)

On 3-4 May 2018 in Sofia (Bulgaria), under the auspices of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, DG JRC organised a high level conference entitled "Innovation, technology transfer and digital transformation in South-East Europe, including Western Balkans". On this occasion, government officials from the Western Balkans reiterated their commitment to adopt smart specialisation.

Supporting an Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans (08/05/2018)

This report gives an overview of the Western Balkans region, looking at challenges and emerging potentials for innovation and smart specialisation. It also presents tools and methodologies available at the JRC to support an innovation agenda for economic transformation. Each challenge is illustrated by a concrete implementation example.

Follow DG JRC's MOOC on S3 Monitoring for Free (07/05/2018)

What are the principles underpinning Research & Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3)? What are the core-indicators to monitor RIS3 sound implementation? Where can one find the key data-sources needed to monitor them? These are the insights you will gain from the MOOC produced by DG JRC on monitoring S3. It has already over 900 participants. Target audiences include: • Civil servants working on regional development at the regional, national and European level; • Students or researchers interested in regional development, or research and innovation policies; • Consultants in regional development or research and innovation policy. The MOOC is free of charge and will be available online for approximately 10 more months.

Survey: Higher Education contributing to S3 in your Region (05/04/2018)

The Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS) project is looking for examples of universities and other Higher Education Institutions (HEI) active involvement in S3. Particular interest is given to HEIs involvement in the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process, Governance and Monitoring of strategies by forming close partnerships with regional authorities. We are also interested to know how regional or national HE systems promote or impede the involvement of HEIs, how funding can act as incentives (including EU and other funds), and what drives academics to engage with regional stakeholders. Examples of what works but also what does not will help all HEIs become more involved in smart specialisation, and will be used widely, notably to illustrate a forthcoming EC Handbook for HEIs and regional authorities. Deadline to complete the short survey: 15th May 2018.

Reminder: 2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation (26/09/2018)

The conference offers a comprehensive picture of the smart specialisation policy experience and highlights recent developments both conceptually and empirically. Particular attention will be given to implementation challenges and ways to address them, as well as to methodologies for impact assessment. It will also explore how smart specialisation engages with global value chains and production networks, and how firms, regions and cities can benefit from cross-border interactions. It will take place from 26th to 28th September 2018 in Seville (Spain). Deadline for submitting abstract and complete special session proposals: 17th May 2018.

Save the date: Dual use event (03/10/2018)

The Stairway to excellence initiative and the S3 industrial modernisation platform), DG GROW together with the Innovation agency of Andalusia Region (IDEA) and the European network of Defence-related Regions (ENDR) are organising a symposium on "Synergies between EU funding for defence and dual use research & innovation". It will take place on 3d and 4th of October 2018 in Seville. More information will be available soon.

Strategic Procurement Pilot Project (09/04/2018)

Managing authorities and other relevant bodies responsible for public procurement are invited to apply for a pilot project aimed at promoting the strategic use of public procurement in projects co-funded under the EU Cohesion Policy. Deadline for application: 20 April 2018.

Smart Stories: the EDP process in Crete (21/03/2018)

The Smart Stories reflect the way in which managing authorities have used the S3 concept to develop their own innovation-driven development policies at national and regional level. This month, an account from the Crete Region is presented, outlining their experience of implementing the entrepreneurial discovery process.

Briefing from Crete's "RIS3 Cross-regional Learning" event (09/04/2018)

The presentations (plenary and parallel sessions) given during the "RIS3 Cross-regional Learning" event that was held in Crete (Greece) are now available.

Higher Education and Smart Specialisation in Puglia (05/04/2018)

DG JRC together with the Apulian agency for technology and innovation (ARTI) organised a "Higher Education and Smart Specialisation" (HESS) event in March 2018. Puglia was one of the first Italian regions to define a Smart Specialisation Strategy. Regional authorities and ARTI are deeply committed to engaging local stakeholders in RIS3 and the HESS project has provided the opportunity to involve the higher education sector more deeply. The HESS case study and the event on the 21st of March focused on the role of Istituti Tecnici Superiori(ITS) and industrial PhDs - in RIS3 implementation. The event combined plenaries with international and national experts, as well as parallel focus groups with education institutions, students, and regional governmental representatives. The discussion identified bottlenecks and opportunities offered by these two educational instruments. The outcomes will be included in a report on this case-study.

Synergies between EU fundings in Pays de la Loire Region (05/04/2018)

In the context of the Stairway to Excellence activities, the University of Bretagne-Loire through the Hub-Europe has invited DG JRC Seville to present the latest activities of the S3 Platform and those related to synergies between different types of EU funding in Nantes (France). The Hub-Europe is an initiative coordinated by the Regional council that gather stakeholders having an interest in European innovation policies.

Widening Participation and S2E (05/04/2018)

The Stairway to Excellence (S2E) team has participated as an observer in the third H2020 meeting of the PSF Mutual Learning Exercise entitled "National Practices in Widening Participation and Strengthening Synergies", which took place in Dublin in March 2018. This gave an opportunity to exchange information with various member states representatives regarding "synergies" implementation issues and S2E experience.

Reminder: Sharing your experience of implementing S3 (21/03/2018)

In the challenging phase of RIS3 implementation, we encourage stakeholders - including inter alia, members of the partnerships from the Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation Thematic Platforms, together with higher education institutions and managing authorities at national and regional levels - to submit their Smart Stories, in English or in their native language. Advertised through various European Commission's media channels, the Smart Stories reflect the ways in which the S3 concept is used to develop innovation-driven economic transformation agendas.

Smart Specialisation and industrial modernisation (06/03/2018)

In this editorial, Slawomir Tokarski, Director of Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing, within the Directorate General for Internal Market, industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission, shares his view of Smart Specialisation and industrial modernisation issues.

Smart Stories: Sharing your experience of implementing S3 (16/02/2018)

In the challenging phase of RIS3 implementation, we encourage stakeholders - including inter alia, members of the partnerships from the Agri-Food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation Thematic Platforms, together with higher education institutions and managing authorities at national and regional levels - to submit their Smart Stories, in English or in their native language. Advertised through various European Commission's media channels, the Smart Stories reflect the ways in which the S3 concept is used to develop innovation-driven economic transformation agendas.

Strategic Forum on IPCEIs - Call for applications (05/03/2018)

The European Commission has set up a Strategic Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI). Its objectives are to identify key value chains of strategic importance to Europe, as well as joint investments, which can make the most of value chains, for all participants. Deadline for applications: 16 March 2018.

Reminder: PXL Workshop on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (08/03/2018)

The S3 Platform organises a Peer eXchange and Learning workshop on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process for RIS3 aimed at regional and national authorities. During the workshop, Estonia and Saxony-Anhalt (DE), North Karelia (FI) and Östersund (SE) regions will present their experience in operationalising EDP for RIS3 implementation. This event will take place on the 8th March 2018 in Magdeburg (Germany).

PXL Workshop on EDP, Policy Instruments and Monitoring (19/03/2018)

Helsinki – Uusimaa (FI), Kymeenlaakso (FI), Tallinn (EE), Liepaja (LV), Klaipeda (LT), Pomorskie (PL), Berlin- Branderburg (DE) and Central Denmark (DK) will present their experience in operationalising EDP, designing and implementing policy instruments and monitoring their respective RIS3. This event will take place on the 19th March 2018 in Aarhus (Denmark), as part of the Innovation Camp organised by the Smart-Up BSR project.

RIS3 and EIT-RIS: Exploring Collaboration Opportunities and Synergies (20/03/2018)

This joint event organised by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) Stairway to Excellence (S2E) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Climate Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT Climate-KIC) aims at facilitating interaction and the exchange of good practices between key national and regional stakeholders, identifying barriers and setting up collaborations in future activities. It is open to Managing Authorities, potential Climate KIC partners, particularly from countries/regions covered by Climate KIC's Outreach Scheme (EIT-RIS). It will take place on the 20th March 2018 in Ljubljana (Slovenia).

Save the date / PXL Workshop on Multi-level Governance for S3 (12/04/2018)

The PXL workshop on multi-level governance for Smart Specialisation is organized by the S3 Platform in co-operation with the Basque Government and Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness. Hosted by the Bilbao City Council, it will bring together national, regional and sub-regional policy-makers from EU countries, representatives from the European Commission and researchers in the field. The aim is to explore aspects of coordination across different administrations and policy-making levels in the context of RIS3 governance. It will take place on 12th April 2018 in Bilbao. Registration will open soon.

S3 in the EU and Latin America (25/05/2018)

In the framework of the next Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Congress, the Smart Specialisation Platform is organising a discussion panel on "Regional Challenges, Transcontinental Opportunities". It will showcase outcomes and findings of four research articles addressing the smart specialisation adaptation process in Latin America as well as the cooperation opportunities with EU counterparts. It will take place on 25th May in Barcelona (Spain).

"Beyond EDP" Framework Document (05/03/2018)

Coordinated by the Otto Von Guericke University (Germany), the "Beyond EDP" Framework Document is now available. It focuses on the management of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process by "Beyond EDP" project partners in the design and implementation phases of their RIS3, in 2016 and early 2017.

Smart Specialisation at work: The entrepreneurial discovery as a continuous process (05/03/2018)

This S3 Platform report presents the results of a survey that aimed at monitoring current practices in the EDP. It provides information on how the quadruple helix has taken part in the EDP and provides insights on the relationship between the different actors and the public body responsible for the EDP. It confirms that once investment priorities have been identified with the stakeholders, various mechanisms are often put in place to keep them engaged in following the development of such S3 priorities. Finally, the results indicate that the EDP, as a continuous process, is proving positive and satisfactory.

EIT Awareness Day: Showing the relevance of S3P support to Serbia (05/03/2018)

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development have recently organised an "EIT Awareness Day" in Belgrade (Serbia). At this occasion, the S3 Platform gave a presentation highlighting its support towards a Serbian RIS3. More than 150 participants learnt about how EIT innovation communities can build and complement ecosystems, with a special focus on the smart specialisation process and stakeholder dialogue in Serbia. Representatives also discussed the potential for future cooperation between EIT and DG JRC in the Western Balkans region.

Follow DG JRC's MOOC on S3 Monitoring for Free (05/03/2018)

What are the principles underpinning Research & Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3)? What are the core-indicators to monitor RIS3 sound implementation? Where can one find the key data-sources needed to monitor them? Produced by DG JRC, the new Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on monitoring is now available for free. It is open to anyone interested in monitoring knowledge-based regional development, and in particular Smart Specialisation Strategies.

Feedback on the Warminsko – Mazurskie Region Stakeholders' event (05/03/2018)

The Marshal's Office of Warminsko – Mazurskie Region and DG JRC recently organized an Entrepreneurial Discovery Process focus group on the High Quality Food sector in the region. Around 100 representatives from local public administration, companies, business associations, and higher education institutions tackled some of the main issues facing the sector. Divided into three focus groups – animal feed, technological innovation, and traditional food – the participants were encouraged to formulate proposals for initiatives to enhance cooperation within the sector, as well as the potential of SMEs in national and regional markets. Elements identified include weak university-business relations, enhanced information flows between the actors, improved promotional strategies, and concrete support for companies' innovative potential, including start-ups. The outcomes are intended to help shape related calls-for-proposals and future RIS3-related policies.

Smart Specialisation 2.0 (06/02/2018)

In the editorial of the first 2018 issue of the S3 Newsletter, Peter Berkowitz, Head of Unit for Smart and Sustainable Growth within the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy of the European Commission, shares his view of Smart Specialisation and its future.

MOOC on S3 Monitoring (30/01/2018)

What are the principles underpinning Research & Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3)? What are the core-indicators to monitor RIS3 sound implementation? Where can one find the key data-sources needed to monitor them? Produced by the JRC, the new Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) on monitoring will start in March 2018. It is open to anyone interested in monitoring knowledge-based regional development, and in particular Smart Specialisation Strategies.

2018 SMARTER Conference on Smart Specialisation (26/09/2018)

The conference offers a comprehensive picture of the smart specialisation policy experience and highlights recent developments both conceptually and empirically. Particular attention will be given to implementation challenges and ways to address them, as well as to methodologies for impact assessment. It will also explore how smart specialisation engages with global value chains and production networks, and how firms, regions and cities can benefit from cross-border interactions. It will take place from 26th to 28th September 2018 in Seville (Spain).

European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for S3 Investments (12/12/2017)

In order to facilitate strategic interregional collaborations and strong industry involvement, and to create a project pipeline for smart specialisation investments across Europe, the Commission intends to mobilise European Strategic Cluster Partnerships. They should be composed of cluster organisations, business network organisations, technology centres and science parks aiming to boost inter-regional collaborations and innovation activities amongst groups of SMEs in specific thematic areas, related industries and value chains. Moreover, they should relate to the Thematic Smart Specialisation Platform on Industrial Modernisation. Deadline: 8th March 2018.

EIT Call for KICs Proposals (12/07/2018)

The EIT invites applicants to submit their proposals with a view to forming a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in the domains of Urban Mobility and Added-value Manufacturing. The deadline for the submission of proposals is the 12th July 2018.

Sixty EU Regions Get Ready for Joint Energy Projects (05/02/2018)

Since 2015, sixty regions have been working towards collaborative projects through the Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy. This European Commission platform facilitates partnerships between EU regions that plan investments in energy innovation and assists them to use funding more effectively. Five interregional partnerships have been created so far in the domains of bioenergy, solar energy, marine renewable energy, smart grids and sustainable buildings.

Public Consultation on EU Funds in the Area of Cohesion (30/01/2018)

In 2018, the Commission will make comprehensive proposals for the next generation of financial programmes for the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, which is the EU's long–term budget. Open to all citizens and stakeholders interested in Cohesion policy (including beneficiaries of EU programmes and funds such as national, regional and local authorities, inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies, academic institutions, civil society and enterprises), the consultation is open until the 8th of March 2018.

High Quality Food Workshop - S3 in Warminsko-Mazurskie (08/02/2018)

In collaboration with the Warminsko-Mazurskie Region in Poland, the "RIS3 Support to Lagging Regions" project of the Joint Research Centre is organising a stakeholder workshop on the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in the region. The event will take place in Olsztyn on the 8th of February 2018.

Sofia University-Business Forum (22/02/2018)

Organised by the Commission’s DG Education and Culture, the University Business forum has been increasing its focus on cooperation at local and regional level, including the importance of smart specialisation as a policy framework. The next forum to be held in Sofia during the Bulgarian Presidency will have two workshops related to S3, in which the HESS project is involved: one on the regional dimension of UB cooperation, and the other on cross-border initiatives, showing the value that can be gained through European partnerships.

Pursuing Synergies for RIS3 Implementation (07/03/2018)

DG JRC together with DG REGIO, the Committee of Regions, and other national, regional and interregional entities are organising the workshop "Developing synergies between Joint Undertakings and ESIF for optimising RIS3 implementation". It will take place on the 7th of March 2018 in Brussels in the European Committee of the Regions venue.

PXL Workshop on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (08/03/2018)

The S3 Platform organises a Peer eXchange and Learning workshop on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process for RIS3 aimed at regional and national authorities. During the workshop, Estonia and Saxony-Anhalt (DE), North Karelia (FI) and Östersund (SE) regions will present their experience in operationalising EDP for RIS3 implementation. This event will take place on the 8th March 2018 in Magdeburg (Germany). Deadline for registration: the 2nd of March 2018.

Innovation Camp Methodology Handbook (06/02/2018)

This Handbook is conceived to encourage regions and cities from all over Europe to adopt the Innovation Camps methodology as a tool to address collectively and effectively social and economic challenges concerning local entities in a European context. This is evidently applicable in the field of Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3), pursuing an open, collaborative and inclusive Entrepreneurial Discover Process (EDP) between Quadruple Helix actors (i.e. government, industry, academia, and civil society). The handbook provides advice to regional and urban policy makers on whether and in which circumstances to organise an Innovation Camp, while it also provides hands-on guidance to practitioners on how to design and run it.

Reconciling S3 with State Aid (30/01/2018)

This article highlights the relevance of state aid regulations both for policymakers and aid grantors when implementing S3. It aims to contribute to the cross-policy approach necessary for the efficient use of European Structural and Investment Funds. It also highlights the importance of early recognition of situations where state aid may be present, and of taking the necessary steps to avoid the risk of repayment to the grantor (recovery).

Higher Education for S3: Towards Strategic Partnerships for Innovation (05/02/2018)

This Policy Brief reports on the results of the first phase of the project 'Higher Education for Smart Specialisation' (HESS). This includes an analysis of a survey of S3 Platform members related to the role of HEIs in the design and implementation of their S3, an introduction to how the European Social Fund may finance human capital elements of innovation, and a summary of the two pilot case studies in Navarra (Spain) and North East Romania.

Open Registration for Non-EU Countries & Regions (02/02/2018)

From now on, all non-EU countries and regions are welcome to register on the Smart Specialisation Platform. This initiative is meant to foster collaboration between EU and non-EU countries and regions.

New Members of the S3 Platform (06/02/2018)

Two non EU regions - Cherkasy (Ukraine) and the regional entity Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - have joined the S3 Platform recently. In total, there are 18 EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries, as well 172 EU and 12 non-EU regions that have registered to the S3 Platform.

OPSSPA: An interesting H2020-funded research project, coordinated by a Madrid-based firm (05/02/2018)

The OPSSPA (an abbreviation for ONLINE Platform for Smart Specialisation Policy Advice - not to be confused with the European Commission S3 Platform at the Joint Research Centre) has been developed by a group of academic, public and private institutions as part of a H2020 funded project. They aim at developing free, user-friendly online tools to help in the implementation of Smart Specialisation.

"Getting Smart on U.S. Regional Inequality: Lessons from Europe" (06/02/2018)

In its article, the Brookings Institute reflects on the potential impact of the Smart Specialisation approach to tackle the issue of disparities within the United States of America.