Reflections Guiding Smart Specialisation Strategies Impact Assessment

Publication article | | Caroline Cohen

This report analyses the potential impact of Smart Specialisation Strategies (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 the main findings of a collective reflection carried out from March to December 2020 with 12 European territories.

Abstract

This report summarises and analyses the main findings of the reflection and collective work engaged with 12 territories from across Europe that was carried out from March to December 2020 with the aim 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.

Based on the reflection carried out with a wide range of member states and regions across Europe, it 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. Although participants advocate a 10 to 15 years’ time span to fully grasp the impact of the induced changes related to the implementation of S3, the report shows that the Smart Specialisation concept is perceived as a pivotal enabler for industry renewal, bringing together stakeholders in the ecosystem and fostering international value chains. The experimental nature of the Smart Specialisation approach can play a central role in supporting new and innovative activities, help territories discover new opportunities and pursue new paths of development towards more sustainable and inclusive growth models.

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