Since 2014, Smart Specialisation represents the reference framework for innovation policy in Europe and, therefore, there is a widespread need for monitoring its development and assessing its achievements. Despite the acknowledged role and the rationale of a monitoring and evaluation system for a Smart Specialisation strategy, there is scope for improving those activities, in particular evaluation. Indeed, evaluation is the “Cinderella” of this policy (Hegyi and Prota, 2021).
This section of the website provides an overview of the work of the S3 Platform as regards to monitoring and evaluation, with special reference to a research project run in 2020 to gain insight on the Smart Specialisation policy experience across the EU in its seventh year of implementation. The S3 Platform has already developed substantial methodological and empirical knowledge regarding monitoring which is presented in a range of supporting materials (policy briefs, reports, articles) and was used to produce training tools. The web page will be updated continuously with novel research and support materials.