Designing and building up a set of indicators for the monitoring and assessment of the Smart Specialisation Strategy TAIEX-REGIO Workshop on financial monitoring and indicators in the programming period Francesco Fionda Project manager Region Aosta Valley, Regional Ministry for Productive Activities, Italy 9 March 2016, Prague

Legislative framework Smart Specialisation Strategy: ex ante conditionality for the thematic objective “Strengthening research, technological development and innovation” in ERDF Each Member State and each region must have their own Smart Specialisation Strategy in order to be able to benefit of ERDF cofinancing Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), a comprehensive and integrated strategy for research and innovation, is an essential instrument for an effective and efficient implementation of ESF programmes and projects  Legislative reference: Reg. (EU) 1303/2013 laying down Common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (= the European Structural and Investment Funds, ESF) 2

RIS3: criteria for fulfillment The national or regional Strategy is in place if:  it is based on a SWOT analysis to concentrate resources on a limited set of research and innovation priorities  it outlines measures to stimulate private RTD investment  it contains a monitoring mechanism indicators  a framework outlining available budgearty resources for research and innovation has been adopted. 3

Geographic position: an Italian nothern region strategically located on the west of the Alps, bordering France and Switzerland The unemployment rate does not exceed 8% and the employment rate remains among the highest in Italy: nonetheless negative effects by the global recession. The tertiary sector (tourism, trade and services) represents a major part with about 80% of regional GDP and approximately 70% of local businesses. Among the industry, representing about 20% of GDP, the most important sectors are: steel, electronics, ICT, building, mechanic and mechatronics, renewable energies. The business environment is primarily represented by micro- enterprises (95% of companies have less than 9 employees) Two universities: University of Valle d'Aosta, active in humanistic studies and economics, and Polytechnic Institute of Turin, specialized in mechatronics and microelectronics. Economic context in Region Aosta Valley 4

Smart Specialisation Strategy in Aosta Valley Identification of a long-term vision for Aosta Valley, strongly focused on the territory and its identity and unique asset, the mountain, with three pillars: excellent mountain, smart mountain and green mountain. Mountain as a “natural resource” for smart and sustainable growth Excellent mountain: special steels, mechanics engineering and electronics, materials for mountain, ski resorts; Smart mountain: high-speed networks, intelligent mobility, environment monitoring systems, network of cultural heritage; Green mountain: smart energies, sustainable buildings, agrifood, green tourism. 5

Four strategic objectives: 1 - Stop the process of de-industrialization; 2 - Spreading innovation in the system pervasively; 3 - Increase of the international openness degree of the regional economy; 4 – Improvement of the quality (skills) of human resources. - Six regional priorities: 1 - Strengthening the existing industry through R&D; 2 - Encouraging new innovative industrial installations; 3 - Networking the local production system; 4 - Encouraging development and diffusion of ICT and related services; 5 – Supporting innovation and technological transfer to the traditional system; 6 - Strengthening the local system of research and HR training and its orientation. Aosta Valley RIS3 strategic objectives and priorities 6

An appropriate set of indicators is foreseen in order to allow an effective monitoring and assessment of the regional RIS3, of the actions and operations established in the Strategy and of the outcomes and impacts realised during the programming period on the territory. The RIS3 monitoring and assessment process is based on:  the selection of a limited and focused set of indicators, mainly regarding the regional strategic objectives and the investment priorities on RD&I;  the adoption of a methodical detection system of data, that shows, for each indicator, its baseline and its target value;  the periodic check, by the RIS3 governance body, on the evolution of the indicators and its possible deviations from the target values;  if necessary, an intervention of adjustment of the objectives on the basis of periodic checks on their rate of achievement and possible reallocation of the financial resources. Aosta Valley RIS3: the monitoring issue and the indicators set 7

SMART indicators: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed Output indicators, Result indicators, Impact indicators For instance, as for R&D&I thematic objective, output indicators: Aosta Valley RIS3: the indicators set 8 ObjectivesOutput indicators Funding RTDNumber of companies financed Substaining innovative start upsNumber of new start ups in regional incubators Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships Number of financed partnerships activated between regional Research Centres Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships with private companies Number of financed partnerships activated between private companies and regional Research Centres Strengthening regional Research Centres: technological infrastructures Number of regional Research Centres financed Substaining innovation demandNumber of initiatives undertaken (PCP,PPI,…)

Result indicators: Aosta Valley RIS3: the indicators set 9 ObjectivesResult indicators Funding RTDCofinanced private investments in R&D Substaining innovative start upsNumber of employees in the start ups incubated Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships Number of projects activated in partnerships Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships with private companies Number of projects activated in partnerships Strengthening regional Research Centres: technological infrastructures Volume of investments in technological infrastructures Substaining innovation demandNumber of enterprises introducing innovations in products/services

ObjectivesResult indicators in 2023 Target values SourcesPeriodic Checks Funding RTDCofinanced private investments in R&D 20 millions € Regional database annual Substaining innovative start ups Number of employees in the start ups incubated 120 Regional database quarterly Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships Number of projects activated in partnerships 30 Regional database quarterly Strengthening regional Research Centres: partnerships with private companies Number of projects activated in partnerships 20 Regional database quarterly Substaining innovation demand Number of enterprises introducing innovations in products/services 35% ISTAT annual Aosta Valley RIS3: result indicators and targets 10

RTD Impact indicators Baseline values YearTarget values in 2023 Sources Investments in R&D on GDP (total) 0, ,00 ISTAT Investments in R&D on GDP (public) 0, ,30 ISTAT Investments in R&D on GDP (private) 0, ,70 ISTAT Employees in R&D per inhabitants 2,720113,5 ISTAT Enterprises introducing innovations in products and/or services (% on global number of enterprises) 29,3%201035,00 % ISTAT Aosta Valley RIS3: impact indicators and targets 11

 RIS3 Monitoring Committee: composed of experts representing members of the regional public administration, local authorities, innovative enterprises, universities, research centers, education institutions, it is the main responsible of the RIS3 monitoring and evaluation process and acts as liaison with european and national bodies with responsibilities in RIS3;  Smart Community Team: regional administrative unit responsible for the implementation of the RIS3, of the Regional Action Plan and its related activities. Directed by a Smart Community Manager, it also performs technical secretariat for the Monitoring Committee. RIS3 monitoring and evaluation activities takes place on two levels: a) the strategic level, ensured by the Monitoring Committee, which shall periodically report the results to the Regional Government; b) the operational level, assigned to the Smart Community Team, which responds, as internal administrative unit, to the Regional Government and shall report the operating results to the Monitoring Committee. Aosta Valley RIS3: the governance model 12

RIS3 monitoring and assessment process 13 Review of the objectives and target values on the basis of the monitoring results Periodic monitoring of indicators and benchmark with target values Definition of the indicators for monitoring of objectives and priorities Detection system with identification of baselines and target values

Thank you for your attention! Mr. Francesco Fionda Project Manager Regional Ministry for Productive Activities, Energy and Employment Region Aosta Valley, Italy 14