Smart Specialisation for Sustainable Development Goals

Localised Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmaps for transformation and development.

Addis Ababa Action Agenda recognises science, technology and innovation as a means to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since November 2018, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has been working to share and develop the European experience on Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) as one of the global methodologies for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmaps for the achievement of SDGs. At the same time, there has been a growing focus on SDGs in EU Member States and EU Neighbourhood. That is why the work stream on Smart Specialisation and SDGs has been divided in two synergetic parts.

1. Cooperation with UN DESA and UN Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on on STI for SDGs Roadmaps.

2. Sustainability dimension of Smart Specialisation: contributing to SDGs through place-based innovation.

The European Union is committed to the Global Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that should be applied in all external and internal policies. As science, technology and innovation (STI) can help achieve progress in all the SDGs, in 2018 the JRC launched a work stream focused on embedding the sustainability dimension in Smart Specialisation Strategies. This new conceptual framework and methodological approach provides reflection and guidance allowing reorienting Smart Specialisation Strategies to better contribute to SDGs and the European Green Deal throughout the whole policy cycle. From the new metrics and diagnostic approaches, through inclusive governance and stakeholder engagement, to policy mix, financing and budgeting aligned with sustainability goals. This approach allows policy makers to localise sustainability challenges in different territorial contexts and translate them into innovation policies fostering sustainability transitions. As a result, key reports have been released on Directionality and Policy Coherence, Theoretical and Conceptual Framework, and Identification of STI potential to address SDGs.  

Throughout this work, several practical examples on the alignment of Smart Specialisation Strategies with SDGs at different territorial levels were identified from national, regional and urban to international partnerships.

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Joint Research Centre present at the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum 2023

The eighth annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals takes place on the 3rd and 4th of May, 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The UN inter-agency task team on STI for the SDGs (IATT) organizes the Forum, convened...

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PUBLICATION |
Aligning smart specialisation with transformative innovation policy

Countries and regions in Europe increasingly engage in new approaches to research and innovation policies aiming to address societal challenges and ambitious sustainability goals. This is partly in response to the increasing gravity and urgency of these challenges experienced across Europe and...

REID Alasdair; STEWARD Fred; MIEDZINSKI Michal
PUBLICATION |
Sustainable development and Sustainable Development Goals in Smart Specialisation strategies in the European Arctic regions

The revised EU Arctic Policy highlights smart specialisation as an important approach for innovation policy helping to strengthen the capacity and resilience of the European Arctic societies and economies (European Commission, 2021). With its overarching goals to foster structural transformation,...

TERAS Jukka; EIKELAND Sveinung; KOIVUROVA Timo; SALENIUS Viktor; MIEDZINSKI Michal
PUBLICATION |
Enhancing the sustainability dimension in Smart Specialisation strategies: a framework for reflection

This report introduces a tested reflection framework that aims to provide guidance for enhancing the sustainability outcomes of Smart Specialisation strategies. To make the framework accessible and useful for policy makers in all interested regions and countries, the JRC consulted and tested the...

MIEDZINSKI Michal; COENEN Lars; LARSEN Henrik; MATUSIAK Monika; SARCINA Angela
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