Seminar - Methodological support to the implementation of Smart Specialisation in Latin America

Topics

• Genesis of S3 within the EU, its key characteristics (localisation, participation and prioritisation) and its evolution in the past decade.
• Introduction to key concepts such as place-based policies, the Entrepreneurial-Discovery Process (EDP), S3 Governance, S3 Monitoring. 

Interactive exercise will aim at: 

• Identifying what aspects of S3 represent a novelty in LATAM countries, what aspects can be easily absorbed and/or adapted by the LATAM policy context (notwithstanding the differences across countries) and what aspects are more difficult to be implemented.  
• Identifying potential topics of interest to be discussed in subsequent seminars.

Topics:

• Evolution of the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP).
• Instruments that have been put in place to implement it. 
• Key challenges emerged from the EU experience. 

Interactive exercise will aim at: 

• Discussing the participatory practices in place in the countries of participants.
• Comparing incentives and obstacles.
• Comparing instruments and tools for continuous engagement and co-creation of stakeholders in the policy process. 

Topics:

• Introduction of the concept and the key issues surrounding governance of Smart Specialisation.
• Focus on the complex coordination for place-based innovation policies which require the involvement of different governmental departments and stakeholders. 
• Focus on the need for multi-level coordination, between the municipal, regional, national and transnational level.

Interactive exercise will aim at: 

• Focusing on the horizontal coordination across different policy domains. 
• Taking into account the integration of stakeholders’ input.
• If applicable, looking at the multi-level dimension (i.e. regional, national).

Topics:

• Aspects related to skills and capacities for Smart Specialisation.
• Report the evidence collected over the years on the difficulties that public administrations face in implementing the strategy.
   

Interactive exercise will aim at: 

• Discussing the current level of skills and capacities for place-based policies for knowledge-based regional development in Latin America. 
• Pointing out on the horizontal coordination across different policy domains.
• Considering the relevance of stakeholders’ input.
• If applicable, focusing on the multi-level dimension (i.e. regional, national).

Topics:

• Aspects related to the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals in Smart Specialisation.
• “Transformative Innovation Policies”.
   

Interactive exercise will aim at: 

• Discussing how SDGs are currently present in the STI policy debate and practice.
• Discussing to what extent they can be further integrated in place-based STI policy.