Regional Policy support to research and innovation in the EU 2020 synergies with other policies smart specialisation Pierre GODIN Policy Analyst, EU Commission, DG REGIO/D2 Joint Programming in Research / Which role for the regions Bruxelles / La Hulpe, 18 October 2010

Specificities of Regional Policy  Reducing regional disparities / territorial cohesion (urban / rural areas)  Promoting competitiveness, growth and jobs  Addressing sustainability issues  2 Funds: ERDF, European Regional Development Fund (economic activities); CF: Cohesion Funds (Infrastructures: transport, environment/energy)  Decentralised / shared management & partnership (Operational Programmes, projects selected by national / regional authorities)  Regions for Economic Change Initiative (Interreg IVC & Urbact) with Fast track networks for mainstreaming good practice from pilot scale to operational programmes

Regional Policy (RP), Research and Innovation (R&I) R&I: going from ideas to action for meeting major societal challenges R&I: key role in a regional integrated strategy → partnership  Universities / HEI; Research / Technology centres; Businesses and their (multi)sectoral organisations, social partners, regional development agencies; NGOs, consumers & citizens associations  Public authorities representing the different policy areas → partnership = triple helix, clusters… → R&I: no impact if disconnected from the regional economy Regional approach: crucial for adapting/disseminating R&I results  Adapting basic R&I results to the regional potential and needs,  Disseminating adapted R&I results through interregional cooperation Regional policy: complementary to other policies supporting R&I  World-class research centres (RTD-FP7)/ … clusters (CIP)

Possible synergies between policies supporting R&I Need to joint efforts for covering high costs of R&I  Bringing together ERDF, FP7, CIP, Nat./ Regional/ private funds  Ensuring that EU remains a leading player in the world of RTD-I  Meeting long term challenges (e.g. climate, energy, demography) COMM “Competitive EU regions through RTD-I” (2007)  Practical guide about funding options & synergies (FP7 / CIP / SF) Complementary financing: possible for RTD-I activities  FP7: planning, design & access to RIs / ERDF: construction of RIs  After the construction of RIs funded by ERDF, the use of RIs for research activities may be supported by FP7, CIP, ERDF/ESF  in clusters & networks: partners supported by ≠ EU programmes  Funding with ERDF good projects identified under R&I policies ( no double or mixed financing for the same part of a project!)

20 years of Regional Innovation Strategies (lessons) In terms of conceptual framework and policy design  from a linear model from R&D to the market (supply-driven) to an interactive model also meeting the users’ needs (demand-driven)  model involving regional private and public partners (ownership)  From knowledge generation (ERA) to diffusion and absorption (RP)  No “one size fits all” policy: regional diversity is an asset  Combine top-down (sectors) & bottom-up (place-based) approaches In terms of the role of the public sector  Strengthen strategic planning capacities of nat./regional governments  Public sector has to catalyse economic development by promoting multilevel and inter-ministerial partnership, new ideas and place- based innovation strategies (incl. clusters, networks…)  Financial engineering, public procurements, sound evaluation.

Regional diversity and the Europe 2020 strategy (main messages)  Research and innovation capacity of regions differs largely in terms of R&I infrastructures, human capital (skills, training), business culture (entrepreneurship), support services and governance  All regions can contribute to achieving EU 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, in particular the "Innovation Union" flagship initiative  Regional Policy offers mechanisms for implementing EU 2020: coming communication on its contribution to smart growth = to align Regional Policy priorities to EU 2020 priorities  However: due to regional diversity, there is no "one size fits all" innovation policy. It implies developing policy mixes and smart specialisation strategies

Smart specialisation strategies  Regional smart specialisation cannot be imposed from above  It is a placed-based approach taking account of the territorial features and also of the EU / National strategies for R&I  It is to be built on regional strengths and comparative advantages as well as on possible cooperation with other regions  Leading regions with a critical mass can invest in advancing a generic "basic" technology (at the frontier of knowledge)  Other regions can invest in the application of this knowledge to a particular sector or related sectors  Sustainable smart specialisation strategies imply coordinating policy measures and involving regional partners who can take the ownership of these strategies  Linking Smart Specialisation with Joint Programming requires an efficient multilevel partnership (EU / National / Regional levels)

From synergies of policies to synergies of actions Efficient regional innovation strategies require close cooperation and synergies between public authorities and relevant bodies involved in implementing the different policy instruments (Managing Authorities for the EU Regional Funds, NCPs for RTD-FP and EEN for CIP) Clear guidance to Managing Authorities is necessary to optimise the impact of Regional Policy allocations to R&I as well as the synergies with other EU policy instruments supporting R&I. It requires them:  better ERDF use for R&I, in combination with FP7 & CIP  develop smart specialisation strategies and interregional cooperation  more effective use of financial engineering & public procurements Commission will support these actions in the Member States & regions:  Assist MS / regions by creating a smart specialisation platform and promoting exchange of experience and good practice  Better coordinate Commission’ services & simplify / harmonise rules

Visit EU websites concerning R&I programmes  Practical Guide on EU funding opportunities for research & innovation:  FP7:  CIP:  ERDF: Managing Authorities for the Operational Programmes  ESF: Managing Authorities for the Operational Programmes And contact information centres & MAs in the MS  EEN – Enterprise Europe Network: for FP7 and CIP  NCP – National Contact points: for FP7; for CIP (energy & ICT)  SF – Managing Authorities: contacts & OPs summaries in web-sites; funding depends on their budget planning, timing and procedures.

Visit EU websites with examples of good practice  Policy themes and Regional policy:  Case studies database:  Regions for Economic Change:  Regio Stars 2010:  Programmes of Innovative Actions: Thank you for your attention !