1. Xabier Goenaga HoU JRC IPTS KfG - S3 Platform Cardiff, 28 June 2012
RIS3 Guide: 6 steps for developing Smart Specialization Strategies - and how the S3 Platform can help
Xabier Goenaga
HoU JRC IPTS KfG - S3 Platform
Cardiff, 28 June 2012

2. What is Smart Specialisation?
Knowledge for Growth Expert Growth: D. Foray, B. van Ark
Europe 2020 and EU budget review
Place based dimension: P. McCann, R. Ortega-Argilés
Proposed reform of Cohesion Policy

3. What is a RIS3. (research and innovation strategy for smart
What is a RIS3? (research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation)
Building on the past
Widespread experience of national/regional innovation strategies in the framework of the EU Cohesion Policy
Achieved greater co-operation among private and public stakeholders and better communication between technology providers and clients
Breaking with the past
Lack of international and trans-regional perspective
Not in tune with the industrial and economic fabric of regions
Too narrow vision of innovation
Picking the winner syndrome
The best performing regions were just copied

4. Which is the Smart Specialisation Approach?
It is not a planning doctrine that would require a region to specialize in a particular set of sectors or industries.
It is an approach to policy that considers whether those activities already strong or showing promise for a region can benefit from R&D and innovation.
This is in addition to creating good framework contitions for business
Regions cannot do everything in STI so they need to focus on certain domains by developing distinctive and original areas of specialisation.

5. The entreprenurial Process of discovery
Smart specialisation is largely about the policy process to select and prioritize fields or areas where a cluster of activities should be developed
Setting priorities and selecting fields always entails risks for policy makers
The ‘business as usual’ strategies to prioritize (imitation and dupplication) do not work
Smart specialisation suggests another strategy:
To let entrepreneurs discover the right domains of future specialisations

6.
Designed to assist regions and Member States in developing RIS3 strategies
Launched in June 2011
Managed by a team established at JRC-IPTS in Seville
Monitored by a Steering Team incl. DG REGIO, RTD, ENTR, EAC, INFSO, SANCO, AGRI, CLIMA
Input from a Mirror Group of European high-level experts and network representatives 6 6

7. Support to regions in preparing RIS3
Peer Review workshops
Informal
assessment of RIS3
RIS3
Methodological Guide
Thematic working groups and analysis
Information sessions in Member States and EU Macro-regions
Website with special access for regions and interactive tools

8. (i) - The RIS3 Guide Edited by JRC IPTS in association with
DG REGIO and with contributions from:
D. Foray, P. McCann, J. Goddard, K. Morgan, C. Nauwelaers, R. Ortega
Commission officials from various DGs
S3 Platform team
Available on the S3 Platform webpage

9. (i) – RIS3 guide - Key steps for developing a RIS3
Step 1 – Analysis of regional context/potential
Step 2 – Governance
Step 3 – Vision for the future
Step 4 – Selection of priorities
Step 5 – Policy mix
Step 6 – Monitoring and evaluation 9

10. (ii) - RIS3 Peer Reviews and Mutual Learning
4 volunteer regions prepare presentations of their RIS3 based on template with the 6 key elements of the guide;
Presentations of the 4 volunteer regions are distributed in advance to ‘critical friends’ together with concise background documents (on the regions’ territorial innovation systems and experience);
Peer discussion at the workshop moderated by the S3Platform. MG members involved as speakers;
Feedback report prepared by S3Platform and forwarded to reviewed region: ‘feedback from the workshop’;
Follow-ups in 3 and 6 months after the workshop.

11. (iii) - Information events
To be organised in close cooperation with MS and DG REGIO.  Priority to CONVERGENCE countries
Macro-regional events: Baltic and Danube (May 2012), Outermost regions (June 2012), Atlantic Arc (tentatively scheduled Nov 2012).

12. (iv) - RIS3 Development vs. RIS3 Assessment
Elaborated from the original proposal by C.Saublens, EURADA

13. (v) - Thematic workshops
New tool for mutual learning – will be launched in autumn 2012
Gather groups of regions/countries/experts around common subjects linked to the RIS3 approach (the 6 steps of the guide)
Liaise with other projects/activities ongoing (e.g. OECD)
Regions agree to develop a common position / brief / document for reflexion or implementation

14. (vi) - Last but not least … S3 Platform own research agenda
Analysis of regional economies (step 1 of the RIS3 guide)
Governance and framework conditions (step 2)
Peer review and transnational learning (step 6)
Building on the work of the peer reviews & thematic workshops

15. Thank you! http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu 15