1. 1 Regional Innovation Strategies RIS

2. 2 About Regional Innovation Strategies The RIS projects aimed to support regions to develop regional innovation strategies that would enhance regional innovation and competitiveness through optimising innovation policies and infrastructure. 32 regions have been supported to formulate regional innovation strategies with RIS projects. It is based on a common methodology based on three main elements: consensus-building among key actors analysis of the regional innovation system development of strategic frameworks on innovation support

3. 3 Today competitive trends Increasing competitive pressures Global Markets Knowledge The way to compete The key actors Firms R&D institutions Public sector Society The instrumentRegional Innovation Strategy The threats StrengthenFosterPromote Competitive Advantage

4. 4 Performance framework of RIS SMEs play a key role in developing and implementing the strategy It means a significant mobilization and utilization of regional endogenous resources Priorities and actions defined within a long term framework High level of consensus requires during the whole process Bottom up process ensuring the participation of all regional key Actors Public Authorities as promoting agents

5. 5 RIS designing process Analysis Global trends Regional industry Regional RDi system Identify innovation and technology sources Identify technological and innovation needs Regional weaknesses and opportunities Contrast Debate Interaction Consensus Regional Innovation Strategy

6. 6 RIS as mechanism for regional development (I) Globalization VS Regionalization. Enterprises gain competitive advantage taking the most of their closest resources. A mixture of close competition with collaboration generate an environment where firms can growth being able to compete in global markets. This performance of the industrial tissue requires an strong innovation system with fluent relations among its members (triple helix) RIS encourages the formation of networks, thin relationships between the public sector, the research community and the business tissue.

7. 7 RIS as mechanism for regional development (II) So, a Regional Innovation Strategy is the first step in order to turn a region in a learning region able to compete in today global economy. The clarity of the objectives defined, the long term scope and the consensus among participants ensure a sustainable growth model based on knowledge. Regional Innovation Strategies are powerful instruments to develop regional economic systems and the best model to ensure a sustainable competitive growth.

8. 8 RIS as mechanism for regional development (III) RIS Strengthening the regional innovation system Defining objectives and actions to compete internationally Promotion of collaboration and networks formation Spreading innovation culture across the entire region Knowledge transfer Clusters Technology platforms Networks Fostering innovation Focusing on critic technology & sectors Development of technology offer Medium & long term Consensus Wide scope Clear identification of need and opportunities Change of mind Entrepreneurship Innovation culture Measures/ ActionsCommon TargetsScope General Objective Sustainable competitive growth RDi support to business tissue Strong and competitive productive system A clear path for development Continuous improvement

9. 9 Foreseen results of RIS Identification of key sector and technologies in the region Positioning the region within the global competitive trend Establishment of medium and long term objective within a strategic framework Definition of a sufficient range of actions to reach the objectives defined Development of mechanisms to follow-up and evaluate the accomplishment of the Strategy

10. 10 Foreseen results of RIS Consensus about the path followed to gain the regional competitive advantage Strengthening of regional technology offer Development of a working method based on collaboration and networking relations Improved capacity of regional firms to assimilate research results through collaboration with research agents Fist attempt to introduce “innovation culture” and “innovation awareness” not only among regional system but society itself.

11. 11 Foreseen results of RIS Level and quality of innovation raised. Levels of RD expenditures and personnel employed grew. Enterprises more involved in regional innovation system. Disparities with more developed regions both in RDi and economic and competitive terms reduced. A widen perception by economic agents that measures implemented within RIS framework contribute to improve the regional situation