Smart Specialisation represents a unique opportunity in contemporary policy for territorial development. Over the last few years, the Smart Specialisation approach has fostered the design and the implementation of place-based innovation-driven economic transformation agendas in the regions and Member States of the European Union, which overall have developed more than 120 Smart Specialisation strategies. Furthermore, building on European experiences, Smart Specialisation is increasingly being considered a driver of decentralised innovation policies in a number of countries around the world.

The JRC acts as the knowledge manager of Smart Specialisation in multiple ways. It has been playing a crucial role in nurturing and harnessing the evolution of the Smart Specialisation policy experience, both conceptually and empirically. Through the Smart Specialisation Platform, the JRC provides an in-depth analysis of its features, contributes to dissecting implementation challenges, has helped explore Smart Specialisation as a relevant policy framework in different territorial contexts such as urban areas and rural communities, and has developed targeted assistance programmes with regions having weaker innovation ecosystems. Our effort is supported by a combination of quantitative and qualitative tools such as peer learning, data management, guidance, good practice and web-based tools, openly available to policy-makers and stakeholders.

Time has come now to take stock of its achievements and identify the most pressing needs for further research, analysis and support. In this framework, three events will be held in Seville from 25 to 28 September – the "SMARTER2018 Conference on Smart Specialisation and Territorial Development" co-organised with the Regional Studies Association, as well its side workshops "Smart Specialisation from the EU to the World" and "Discover the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies". Moreover, in October the JRC will participate actively in the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, where we intend to address, together with DG REGIO and other Commission services, a broad spectrum of issues related to Smart Specialisation, including notably the evolution of interregional partnerships towards joint investment projects, through the participation of EU regions and Members States in the Thematic Smart Specialisation Platforms for Agri-food, Energy and Industrial Modernisation.