1 RegStrat – Six Countries Programme workshop BENCHMARKING EXERCISE Jan Skonieczny – Wroclaw University of Technology Marta Zalewska – Lower Silesia Centre for Regional Studies Dublin April 2007

2 1. Overview of the pilot action - What is the function of the pilot exercise for The Lower Silesia Voivodship? Which SPI tool will you use? Benchmarking What do you want to accomplish with the SPI tool? Gain knowledge about benchmarking Develop the skills of using benchmarking Position & calibrate the Lower Silesia Region Identification of gaps between the Lower Silesia region and benchmarked regions Why do you carry out this pilot? Increase awareness about benchmarking (SPI tools) among regional stakeholders Develop a common understanding & collaboration for SPI tools among regional stakeholders Improve knowledge of RIS and formulate ideas for its revalidation in the context of benchmarking exercise that was carried out Preparation for future Regional Development expenditures - fomulated conclusions in the context of benchmarking exercise that was carried out What should you achieve with this pilot? Benchmarking (SPI tools) awareness & capability Awareness of the RIS and its possible modifications Integration of regional stakeholders around the RIS Creation of the discussion platform about RIS in the Lower Silesia region among regional stakeholders

Problems 1. Generating, creating and building of index for RTDI activities in order to compare with other regions (How?) 2. Choose of indicators, which can be ingredients of the index in question a. first proposal of IRER: - General economic background (land, population, GDP, employment, labour, productivity), - Human capital base (enrolment, employment), - Economic structure (firms for size and sector, gross fixed capital formation), Innovation potential (GERD, its financial sources and performers), - R&D personnel (total, researcheres, university professors), - Innovation activity (innovating firm), - Patents and publication (total, pro-capita and pro-researcher) b. Which else?

Problems 3. Choose of regions, with which we can compare. (It refers polish and european regions) - first proposal – similarity a. polish regions second growth poles: Dolnośląskie, Małopolskie, Wielkopolskie, Śląskie), b.neighbours regions: Hradec Kralove, Liberec (Czech Republic), Saxony (Germany). c. Who else?

5 7. Outcomes which should be achieved 1.Carrying out of regional photography in RTDI field 2.Definition of position of region in relation to other European regions 3.Definition of regional development gaps regarding indicators in the RTDI field 4.Gathering information which can help to rationale management of own and european financial resources in investments in RTDI field 5.Creating of base for formulation and implementation of RTDI policies in the Region.

6 8. Envisaged impact on Lower Silesia 1. Short-term a. set up of regional regionalnego think-tank e.g.(Lower Silesia Centre for the Regional Studies) using SPI Tools and gained experiences 2. Medium-term a. support regional authorities in evaluation and modification of RIS in terms of expenditures of European funds (next programming period , Regional Operation Programme). 3. Long-term a. the base to the next step in the SPI Policy circle, e.g. preparing for foresight exercise (regional, technical and scientifical)

7 9. Critical/ relevant issues 1.What are the best indicators to describe RTDI fields? 2.Choose of benchmark (On which base do we choose a region (or regions), with which we will make a comparison?) 3.Finding of ways to implement outcomes of the benchmark exercise to practice (How to incite policy makers for applying outcomes benchmark exercise as the base of their decisions?) 4.How to use SPI tools in creation of the regional policy, especially in the field of innovation? 5.In what should Lower Silesia invest ca 1,2 Mld Euro to realize acceptance strategic targets (Development Strategy of Lower Silesia Voivodship, Lower Silesia Innovation Strategy – quality of life the inhabitants in the Region)?

8 Thank you for your atention