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Cohesion Policy Incentives for Collaborative Industrial Research. The Evaluation of a Smart Specialisation Forerunner Programme

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  • Riccardo Crescenzi
  • Mara Giua
  • Guido de Blasio

Abstract

This paper evaluates a program of subsidies for Collaborative Industrial Research (co-) funded by the EU Cohesion Policy in Italy mobilizing over 1 billion euros. This program anticipated in the 2007-2013 funding cycle some of the key features of Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) programmes, offering evidence-based insights on potential challenges to the practical application of the S3 approach. The programme was not successful in boosting investments, value added or employment of beneficiary firms. The collaborative dimension of the projects added limited value and a more generous level funding would have not improved effectiveness. However, positive impacts emerged in low tech sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Riccardo Crescenzi & Mara Giua & Guido de Blasio, 2018. "Cohesion Policy Incentives for Collaborative Industrial Research. The Evaluation of a Smart Specialisation Forerunner Programme," SERC Discussion Papers 0231, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:sercdp:0231
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    Cited by:

    1. Acconcia Antonio & Beraldo Sergio & Capuano Carlo & Stimolo Marco, 2023. "Public Subsidies and Cooperation in Research and Development. Evidence from the LAB," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 23(3), pages 727-760, July.
    2. Attila Varga & Norbert Szabó & Tamás Sebestyén, 2020. "Economic impact modelling of smart specialization policy: Which industries should prioritization target?," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(5), pages 1367-1388, October.
    3. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Giua, Mara & Sonzogno, Giulia Valeria, 2021. "Mind the Covid-19 crisis: An evidence-based implementation of Next Generation EU," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 278-297.
    4. 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.
    5. Jason Deegan & Tom Broekel & Rune Dahl Fitjar, 2021. "Searching through the Haystack:The Relatedness and Complexity of Priorities in Smart Specialization Strategies," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 97(5), pages 497-520, October.
    6. Angela Wigger, 2023. "The New EU Industrial Policy and Deepening Structural Asymmetries: Smart Specialisation Not So Smart," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 20-37, January.
    7. 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.
    8. Kyriakos Drivas & Claire Economidou & Ioannis Kaplanis & Maria Theano Tagaraki, 2021. "Smart Specialization in a Subnational Context: Evidence From Greece," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 71(3-4), pages 3-12, July-Dece.
    9. Sara Amoroso & Simone Vannuccini, 2019. "Teaming up with Large R&D Investors: Good or Bad for Knowledge Production and Diffusion?," SPRU Working Paper Series 2019-20, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    10. Raquel Ortega-Argilés, 2022. "The evolution of regional entrepreneurship policies: “no one size fits all”," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(3), pages 585-610, December.
    11. repec:ehl:lserod:107085 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Gagliardi, Luisa, 2018. "The innovative performance of firms in heterogeneous environments: The interplay between external knowledge and internal absorptive capacities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 782-795.
    13. 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.
    14. Giua, Mara & Hoxhaj, Rezart & Pierucci, Eleonora, 2022. "Inclusive Europe: the impact of the EU Cohesion Policy on immigrants’ economic integration in Italy," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 532-549.
    15. Varga, Attila & Sebestyén, Tamás & Szabó, Norbert, 2021. "Az intelligens szakosodási politika gazdasági hatásainak modellezése [Economic impact assessment of smart specialization policy]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 901-929.
    16. Damioli, Giacomo & Marin, Giovanni, 2024. "The effects of foreign entry on local innovation by entry mode," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cohesion Policy; Smart Specialisation; Policy Evaluation; Innovation; European Union;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • 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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