1 S3 Platform: Achievements and outlook on activities for 2014 Moritz Haller JRC, Unit for International, Interinstitutional and Stakeholder Relations 20 May 2014

Update on S3 Platform Members (11 April 2014): 151 EU regions + 14 EU countries + 2 non-EU regions 2

3 Main activities of S3 Platform in support of the countries/regions preparing RIS3 Trans-national learning arena: peer review workshops, thematic workshops, alignment of innovation roadmaps Implementation of RIS3: benchmarking, examples, policy tools, … RIS3 assessment, mutual expert learning, support to DG REGIO desks Conceptual / methodological guidance and development, research agenda and publications Specific thematic paths: KETs, Danube, advanced manufacturing … Communication tools: website, newsletter, twitter

4 Peer reviews  No. of peer-reviews workshops: 15 (7 in 2013, max. number in a single year)  Peer reviewed regions: 46  Peer reviewed countries: 7  Average no of regions/countries present at each workshop: 25 Next peer review: 3-4 July in Ireland: Pl, BG, RO, IE, SK

...it was an interesting exercise which made us more conscious of the elements in the RIS3 process...it made us introduce changes in the on-going RIS3 process...it made us change substantially how we work with the RIS3 process All in all, how useful was it for your region or country to take part in the Peer Review exercise? 550%27%9%36% 4 23%9%45% 39%36%41%9% 20%5%14%0% 1 5%18%0% na5% 9% 5 How satisfied are you with the peer review workshop? (questionnaire to peer-reviewed regions/countries, Nov 2013)

– an online database of RIS3 priorities Current status (March 2014): Regional priorities' entries: 725 EU Countries with encoded RIS3 Priorities: 9 EU Regions with encoded RIS3 Priorities: 113 Non-EU Regions with encoded RIS3 Priorities: 17 −Data from peer reviews, expert assessment reports, and national reports; −Additional data can also be uploaded by regions/countries, and any existing entries can be edited; 6

Challenges developing S3 (1) The change of mindset from RIS to S3 is not straightforward, but some cultural change can be observed! (e.g. at governance level in some regions) Synergies with other fundings, mainly H2020, little or not explored Some authorities tend to elude their direct involvement (instead desk work and consultants) 7

Challenges developing S3 (2) The involvement of stakeholders seems to be growing!, albeit not always well proved who is participating and the method used Monitoring and evaluation systems are most often weak The prioritisation process frequently looks like a "wish-list", not as resulting from as a genuine prioritisation-elimination process… 8

EP Pilot Project Stairway to excellence in New MS (S2E) – Start May 2014 Rationale Supporting synergies in the use of ESIF & Horizon 2020 in new Member States may deliver additional gains in terms of:  innovation results  close the innovation gap in Europe  promote economic growth The overall political rationale of identifying synergies between ESIF, H2020 and other R+I programmes is to maximize impact and efficiency of public funding.

Launching "Upstream actions" to prepare regional R&I players to participate in Horizon 2020 through capacity mapping & capacity building.  Mapping / providing new MSs & regions with analyses and evaluation of their past performance in FPs, strengths and weaknesses in terms of R&I capacity, institutional features, & alignment between public R&I and business innovation needs.  Adapt the peer review & mutual learning methodology developed for assessing RIS3, to peer review the structures and instruments used by old & new MSs/regions to enhance participation to FPs & exploit synergies between H2020 and ESIF. As is the case for the RIS3 peer reviews, S2E peer reviews would be organised by MS/regions with the support of JRC. Communication & cooperation between Horizon 2020 national contact points & managing authorities of the ESIF shall be strengthened S2E ACTION 1: Assistance to new MSs in closing the innovation gap, promote excellence in all regions and MSs of the EU

ACTION 2: Stimulating the early and effective implementation of national and regional Smart Specialisation Strategies Launching "Downstream actions" to provide the means to exploit and diffuse R&I results, stemming from Horizon 2020 & preceding programmes, in line with priorities identified in the relevant S3. Objective for 2014/2015: develop/test some methodologies to do it effectively (full deployment of those methodologies in subsequent years). Some possible actions are as follows: Identifying a limited number of common thematic priorities within RIS3 of several new MS/regions. Potential high impact from horizontal priorities such as Key Enabling Technologies (KET) and ICT. Assessing selected on-going or recently finalised Framework Programme projects in these areas. Events with project participants from leading countries, business, research community and policy makers from new MS/regions and stakeholders. These events may try different formats to see which one would be most effective for wide transmission of knowledge.

12 Thank you!