By Joint Research Centre

1. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Role of Clusters in smart specialisation
The Smart Specialisation (S3) Platform
Inger Midtkandal
Knowledge for Growth Unit
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS)
Joint Research Centre
page 1

2. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Smart Specialisation for Economic Growth
• Smart Specialisation Strategies will foster economic growth, in
the region and in the Union
• Smart Specialisation Strategies is about value for money,
about Smart R&D investment in a context of scarce public
resources
• The Commission has proposed smart specialisation strategies to
be in place as an ex ante condition for the disbursement of
R&D and ICT-related funds in the 2014-2020 framework

3. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
A Smart Specialisation Strategy is:
A place based strategy which allows regions to find their own
way to innovation by exploiting existing assets and capabilities.
No size fits all!
About making choices – prioritizing (based on history and
planning for the future)
About outward orientation, looking beyond the regional (and
national) boarders (for both R&D competence and business
partners, and for finding the regional unique niche)
About a process that brings on board the right partners and
that allows an entrepreneurial discovery of the region's future
path

4. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
The S3 Platform is a service
To support regional policy makers, implementing bodies and
Commission services
Established at the JRC – IPTS in Seville
• Institute for Prospective Technological Studies of the European
Commission’s Joint Research Centre
Launched in June 2011
• Services becoming progressively available - fully operational by
mid-2012
Overseen by a Steering Team
• With European Commission officials from various DGs (REGIO,
ENTR, EMPL, RTD, INFSO, EAC, SANCO, CLIMA, AGRI)
Stakeholder advice provided through a Mirror Group
• Chaired by C. Saublens (EURADA)

5. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Guide to Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart
Specialisation (RIS3)
The contents of the Guide
Edited by JRC IPTS in association with
DG REGIO and with contributions
from:
policy rationale
D. Foray, P. McCann, J. Goddard, K.
Morgan, R. Ortega-Argilés
governance issues
A number of Commission officials
from various DGs practical steps to design a
JRC IPTS staff RIS3
First draft of chapters to be discussed
with Mirror Group on 27 October peer review and monitoring
Finalised by the end of 2011 policy instruments
Reviewed in 2012 after feedback from
users case studies

6. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Seminars and training
Forum for regions to learn
from each other •Training of experts that could
assist regions in the RIS3
Discussions with peers and experts on processes
• Drafts of strategies
• Challenges •Training of regional policymakers
• Tools for designing a good process who would be better equipped to
• How to involve the right partners run a RIS3 process in their own
• Best practice… region.
More focused seminars on
(e.g.): Will be organized
• Governance throughout 2012
• Indicators
• Policy instruments
According to needs and requests from
regions

7. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
The S3 Platform will develop analytical tools
Science-based approach with constant discussion and collaboration with
academics and policy makers
Experience on smart specialisation gained by JRC IPTS in recent years
(JRC Scientific and Technical Reports, 2009):
• «The question of R&D specialisation»
• «Is networking a substitute or a complement to regional innovation
capacity?»
Better understanding of dynamics of industrial structures:
http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/reports.htm
Suitable indicators (existing and new) will be selected to support analysis
(build on Guide and on-going OECD project)
We will be learning!

8. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Features of the current website
(http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/activities/research-and-innovation/s3platform.cfm)
•Presentation of the activities of the S³ Platform
•Useful documents and links to Commission resources and activities
•Presentation of forthcoming events
•Explanation of requirements to register to the S³ Platform
•List of registered regions and highlights on new registrations
•Being progressively upgraded with new features

9. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
How to join the Platform?
Send an e-mail to : jrc-ipts-s3platform@ec.europa.eu
Include in the email the following information.
1. The department / body and persons responsible for the work
with the platform.
2. A chart / diagram illustrating the bodies and responsibilities
regarding the drafting and coordination of innovation strategies.
Include names and contacts
3. Commitment to develop a webpage on smart specialisation. Will
be linked to the S3 portal.
4. Commitment to use the Technical Assistance of Structural Fund
programmes or other financial resources available to participate
to the work of the S³Platform.

10. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Registered regions
As per Oct 2011, we have 12 registered regions (and more in process):
Andalucía (ES) Oberösterreich (AT)
Centre (FR) País Vasco (ES)
Cornwall (UK) Västra Götaland (SE)
Friesland (NL) Vest (RO)
Kent (UK) Wallonie (BE)
Nord - Pas de Calais (FR) Weser-Ems (DE)

11. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
The role of Clusters in S3
Clusters should be involved in making the S3
Clusters could bring in outward looking perspectives to the
process
S3 can ensure a good regional dialogue with clusters
S3 can give clusters a voice in governmental structures
S3 can ensure knowledge and understanding of clusters within
R&D institutions and governmental bodies
S3 can support clusters
S3 can give better tools to clusters
A good S3 process will give a better innovative environment also
in governmental structures. Clusters will benefit from that!

12. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Examples from Norway…
Nordland: Cluster in Aquaculture included in regional
strategy prioritized in the tools (VRI) for strengthening R&D in
the cluster
Vestfold: Tools for regional R&D (VRI) found water cleansing
companies, cluster was made now included in regional
strategy.
Agder: Regional strategy wanted to attract more tourists
Prioritized tourism in their R&D activities (VRI) Cluster was
created!

13. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
What kind of support do clusters get from
the S3 implementation?
Maritim cluster in Møre: challenges when Norwegian work life
culture is challenged by a large proportion of foreign
employment
Windmill ‘cluster’ in Nordfjord: bringing in the right R&D
competence from outside the region
Cooperation with University to educate tailored engineers
Foresight in clusters
Network companies and R&D partners
Crossover technology with existing R&D in region
Etc etc

14. IC-MED Intercluster Copperation Seminar, Sevilla, October 26 2011
Thank you for your attention!
Inger.Midtkandal@ec.europa.eu
im@rcn.no