Smart specialisation: The concept and its application to EU cohesion policy
The persistent gap between European regions as regards research and innovation performance provides a strong case for policies tailored to the local context that foster structural change. This is where smart specialisation comes into play, providing a path for innovation-driven differentiation and economic transformation, building on local assets and comparative strengths. To achieve maximum impact, efforts and investments are expected to focus on a limited number of priorities, identified through a discovery process in which entrepreneurs play a central role. This place-based approach and logic of prioritisation have been found to be broadly consistent with the overall reforms of EU cohesion policy, aiming to improve spending efficiency and impact. Consequently, having a research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3) in place has become a prerequisite to receiving funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The link between RIS3 and cohesion policy is the subject of a report currently in preparation within the European Parliament Committee on Regional Development. Initial assessments of smart specialisation strategies, carried out in early 2015, have so far delivered a mixed picture, notably regarding the choice of priorities, often considered as too generic or insufficiently connected to the regional economic and innovation structures. In 2016, a high-level conference will provide an opportunity for further, and more informed, evaluation of the implementation of the smart specialisation approach in the European Union.
Briefing
À propos de ce document
Type de publication
Auteur
Domaine politique
Mot-clé
- cohésion économique et sociale
- compétitivité
- construction européenne
- développement régional
- ENTREPRISE ET CONCURRENCE
- esprit d'entreprise
- financement de l'UE
- finances de l'Union européenne
- innovation
- organisation de l'entreprise
- politique régionale de l'UE
- PRODUCTION, TECHNOLOGIE ET RECHERCHE
- recherche et développement
- recherche et propriété intellectuelle
- région et politique régionale
- stratégie européenne pour la croissance
- UNION EUROPÉENNE
- ÉCONOMIE