Technologie en innovatie in Vlaanderen: Prioriteiten.

Vlaanderen;

RIS3 Implementation and Policy Mixes

This paper discusses how the policy mix concept applies to RIS3. The paper argues that the RIS3 implementation phase – and the development of an efficient policy mix supporting RIS3 orientations – is at least as important as the design phase. Countries and regions are now embarking on the implementation phase of the RIS3. If a sequential approach is taken, disconnecting design and implementation, RIS3 will not be effective as they will remain at the stage of intentions while not influencing policies. The paper also reflects on the discussions held during a peer review workshop organised in Riga on 23-24 February 2014 where four countries presented their RIS3 work on implementation and policy mix (Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and England). The paper concludes underlining the challenges and the way forward in designing and implementing RIS3-oriented policy mixes. The main recommendations for building RIS3 policy mixes are: 1) to include policy instruments with both a direct and indirect contribution to RIS3 goals, thus adopting a wide approach for the policy mix, crossing policy domains and governance levels; 2) to scrutinize interactions between the policy mix components and identifying a variety of sources of tension between instruments; 3) to integrate an outward-looking dimension in designing the polices, which means to treat the region as a local node in global networks; and 4) to develop and use policy intelligence tools for a more strategic management of RIS3-relevant policy mixes.JRC.J.2-Knowledge for Growt

The role of cities in cohesion policy 2014-2020

Urban regions are an important factor in regional development. During the 2007-2013 programming period, the main input provided by cities and urban areas was at project level. For the 2014-2020 programming period, Cohesion policy enhances the role of urban areas. Nevertheless, in practice the role of cities still seems similar in scale. As the programming phase is almost completed, there is now limited scope for further influence on the design of the new programmes. The next opportunity to involve cities will be as part of partnerships during the programming perio

Promoting innovation in transition countries: A trajectory for smart specialisation

Innovation policies seek to prepare an economy for the future by steering it on a transformation path to make it more competitive in increasingly global and interconnected markets. While most advanced economies have a tradition of strategymaking for territorially based innovation and economic development, transition countries moving from centralised unaccountable planning to decentralised democratic policymaking have no working, market-based practices to build on. Governments in such contexts often resort to mimicking the economic priorities and instruments of advanced countries. We suggest a trajectory for transition countries to avoid the widespread pitfall of poorly defined innovation policies by upgrading and changing their industrial polices in line with the ideas embedded in the concept of innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3): (1) Build a trusted ‘competence centre’ to provide a comprehensive analysis of your economic fabric and coordinate the process; (2) Begin with one strong economic domain in which engaged stakeholders work together with government bodies to define joint priorities and actions (domain experimentation); (3) Start with one region to experiment with different approaches at subnational level (territorial experimentation); (4) Sequence your process in a way you can harvest the low-hanging fruits in the short-term (non-R & D measures), focus on the core of your activities with high potential in the medium term, and leave R & D-heavy breakthrough programmes for the longer term.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

ERAWATCH COUNTRY REPORTS 2011: Ireland

The main objective of the ERAWATCH Annual Country Reports is to characterise and assess the performance of national research systems and related policies in a structured manner that is comparable across countries. EW Country Reports 2011 identify the structural challenges faced by national innovation systems. They further analyse and assess the ability of the policy mix in place to consistently and efficiently tackle these challenges. The annex of the reports gives an overview of the latest national policy efforts towards the enhancement of European Research Area and further assess their efficiency to achieve the targets. These reports were originally produced in November - December 2011, focusing on policy developments over the previous twelve months. The reports were produced by the ERAWATCH Network under contract to JRC-IPTS. The analytical framework and the structure of the reports have been developed by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies of the Joint Research Centre (JRC-IPTS) and Directorate General for Research and Innovation with contributions from ERAWATCH Network Asbl.JRC.J.2-Knowledge for Growt

Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies: A Handbook

Smart Specialisation represents the most comprehensive industrial policy experiment being implemented in Europe. Conceived within the reformed Cohesion policy of the European Commission, Smart Specialisation is a place-based policy promoting economic transformation and investment in innovative activities in selected areas of the socio-economic system in order to achieve a smart, inclusive and sustainable growth. Drawing on empirical evidence, the Smart Specialisation Implementation Handbook is targeted at policy-makers and regional development professionals who are crafting their innovation policy according to a common set of principles and methodologies. The handbook aims at taking stock of the Smart Specialisation experience and presenting its current state of the art, both in terms of conceptual developments and practical implementation. It addresses five key milestones of the implementation process: 1) The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) cycle: from priority selection to strategy implementation 2) Good governance: principles and challenges 3) From priorities to projects: selection criteria and selection process 4) Transnational cooperation and value chains 5) MonitoringJRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Underpinning effective strategy design: reflection paper

The debate around the smart specialisation concept and its applicability to regional development policy has so far concentrated on the design phase of policies, most notably on the question of definition of specialisation domains through an entrepreneurial discovery process involving a wide range of stakeholders. This question of prioritisation is indeed a central piece of the strategy for regions willing to upgrade their economic transformation potential