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Designing and Implementing a Smart Specialisation Strategy at Regional Level: Some Open Questions

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  • Donato Iacobucci

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the theoretical underpinnings and implementation problems of the RIS3. The analysis is carried out by reviewing the available literature on RIS3 and the proposals of 36 EU regions. The RIS3 approach requires the concentration of R&D efforts in a few domains. It requires a variable mix between research and innovation policy according to the region?s innovative capability. The paper discusses the theoretical and practical issues arising when trying to identify links between technological domains within the same regions and between different regions. The paper also questions the emphasis of the RIS3 on the bottom-up approach given that the design of a ?strategy? must necessarily rely, at least at the beginning, on a topdown approach. Suggestions are made on how to improve the design and implementation of the RIS3.

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  • Donato Iacobucci, 2014. "Designing and Implementing a Smart Specialisation Strategy at Regional Level: Some Open Questions," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(1), pages 107-126.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:scresc:v:html10.3280/scre2014-001006
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Callum Wilkie, 2015. "Institutions and the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process for Smart Specialization," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1523, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2015.
    2. Bruno Brandão Fischer & Maxim Kotsemir & Dirk Meissner & Ekaterina Streltsova, 2020. "Patents for evidence-based decision-making and smart specialisation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(6), pages 1748-1774, December.
    3. Pierre-Alexandre Balland & Ron Boschma & Joan Crespo & David L. Rigby, 2017. "Smart Specialization policy in the EU: Relatedness, Knowledge Complexity and Regional Diversification," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1717, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Jul 2017.
    4. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:special2:p:503-512 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Marco Di Cataldo & Vassilis Monastiriotis & Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose, 2022. "How ‘Smart’ Are Smart Specialization Strategies?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1272-1298, September.
    6. Emmanuel Muller & Andrea Zenker & Miriam Hufnagl & Jean-Alain Héraud & Esther Schnabl & Teemu Makkonen & Henning Kroll, 2017. "Smart specialisation strategies and cross-border integration of regional innovation systems: Policy dynamics and challenges for the Upper Rhine," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 35(4), pages 684-702, June.
    7. Evgeniy Kutsenko & Ekaterina Islankina & Alexey Kindras, 2018. "Smart by Oneself? An Analysis of Russian Regional Innovation Strategies within the RIS3 Framework," Foresight and STI Governance (Foresight-Russia till No. 3/2015), National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 25-45.
    8. Sandro Montresor & Francesco Quatraro, 2015. "Smart Specialization Strategies and Key Enabling Technologies. Regional evidence from European patent data," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1525, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Aug 2015.
    9. Dominique Lepore & Francesca Spigarelli, 2020. "Integrating Industry 4.0 plans into regional innovation strategies," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 35(5), pages 496-510, August.
    10. Ron Boschma, 2021. "Designing Smart Specialization Policy: relatedness, unrelatedness, or what?," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2128, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Sep 2021.
    11. Giulio Cainelli & Roberto Ganau & Marco Modica, 2019. "Does related variety affect regional resilience? New evidence from Italy," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 62(3), pages 657-680, June.
    12. László Szerb & Raquel Ortega‐Argilés & Zoltan J. Acs & Éva Komlósi, 2020. "Optimizing entrepreneurial development processes for smart specialization in the European Union," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(5), pages 1413-1457, October.
    13. Fabrizio Guzzo & Carlo Gianelle & Elisabetta Marinelli, 2018. "Smart Specialisation at work: The policy makers' view on strategy design and implementation," JRC Research Reports JRC114141, Joint Research Centre.
    14. Biagi, Bianca & Brandano, Maria Giovanna & Ortega-Argiles, Raquel, 2021. "Smart specialisation and tourism: Understanding the priority choices in EU regions," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    15. Marco Di Cotaldo & Vassilis Monastiriotis & Andres Rodriguez-Pose, 2020. "Populism Amidst Prosperity: How ‘smart’ are Smart Specialisation strategies?," LEQS – LSE 'Europe in Question' Discussion Paper Series 162, European Institute, LSE.
    16. Diego D'Adda & Donato Iacobucci & Roberto Palloni, 2020. "Relatedness in the implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategy: a first empirical assessment," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(3), pages 405-425, June.
    17. Roberto Capello, 2014. "Smart Specialisation Strategy and the New EU Cohesion Policy Reform: Introductory Remarks," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(1), pages 5-13.
    18. repec:ehl:lserod:107085 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Marco Di Cataldo & Vassilis Monastiriotis & Andres Rodriguez-Pose, 2020. "How ‘smart’ are Smart Specialisation strategies?," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2052, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2020.
    20. Korneliusz Pylak & Piotr Oleszczuk & Przemysław Kowalik, 2021. "Typology of Smart Specializations Across European Regions," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 503-512.
    21. Argentino Pessoa, 2016. "Rectracted: Smart specialization in the EU: RIS3 conditionality, innovation and cohesion," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 439-439, June.
    22. Michaela Trippl & Elena Zukauskaite & Adrian Healy, 2020. "Shaping smart specialization: the role of place-specific factors in advanced, intermediate and less-developed European regions," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(10), pages 1328-1340, October.
    23. Monica Coffano & Dominique Foray, 2014. "The Centrality of Entrepreneurial Discovery in Building and Implementing a Smart Specialisation Strategy," SCIENZE REGIONALI, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(1), pages 33-50.
    24. Kroll, Henning, 2017. "The challenge of smart specialisation in less favoured regions," Working Papers "Firms and Region" R1/2017, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Strategia della specializzazione intelligente; politica regionale dell?innovazione; specializzazione e variet?.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L52 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Industrial Policy; Sectoral Planning Methods
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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