1. Strategic approach to R&I policies and overcoming the innovation divide NCP_WIDE.NET Workshop
Bonn
13 March 2017
Nicholas Harrap
Stairway to Excellence - S3P
Growth and Innovation, DG JRC, EC

2. Innovation divide

3. Innovation divide
The Innovation divide between EU15 and EU13 countries from FP/H2020 perspective
EU Regions in Horizon 2020 (oct 2016)
The trend of EU13 budget share is stabilized … …But the gap between EU15 and EU13 countries remains important
EU FP/H2020 trends of Budget share from FP6 to H2020 (FP6=base 100)

4. What is Smart Specialisation?
= fact-based: all assets + capabilities + bottlenecks in a region, incl. external perspective, cooperation potential, global value chains
= no top-down decision but dynamic entrepreneurial discovery process uniting key stakeholders around shared vision
= all forms of innovation, not only technology- driven, existing / new knowledge
= ecosystem approach: creating environment for change, efficiency of institutions
= differentiation: focus on competitive advantages, potential for excellence, emerging opportunities, market niches
= concentration of resources on priorities, problems and core needs, for critical mass/critical potential
= synergies across different departments and governance levels (EU-national-regional); cross-sector/technology links
= place-based economic transformation: rejuvenate traditional sectors through higher- value activities
Smart specialisation as an ex-ante conditionality for the release of ERDF resources on TO 1 (research and innovation) = 40 billion EUR 4

5. Main activities of the S3 Platform
Support to RIS3 Implementation
SSP
S2E
Lag Reg
"Smart Specialization"
"Stairway to excellence"
"Lagging Regions"
Key Issues
Entrepreneurial discovery process
Monitoring / evaluation
Efficiency/effectiveness of R&I ecosystem Synergies between R&I funding streams
Governance Support Catalysing EDP
Translate priorities into projects
Territorial Coverage
EU28 MSs & Regions
Macro-regional Initiatives
Urban & Rural Initiatives
Changing to EU28 MSs & Regions
Selected MSs, Regions
& Cities
Thematic Coverage
Thematic SSPs
(digital/energy/
agro-food/industrial modernization)
Thematic
R&I Support
(some focus on H2020)
Regional thematic priorities
(some focus on bio/agro-food, ICTs)
Targeted support to actors, processes and learning
Stimulating stakeholders' involvement
Interactive web tools
Analytical support

6. Smart Specialisation Platform
Created in 2011 to provide science-based
professional advice to EU national and regional
policy-makers for the establishment and implementation of their Research & Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3), to make better use of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and thus contribute to the Europe 2020 goals.
Wide membership (16/03/2016):
EU Countries registered in S3P: 18
EU Regions registered in S3P: 170
Non-EU Countries registered in S3P: 2
Non-EU Regions registered in S3P: 9
Active participation in events:
S3P Peer-reviewed Countries: 15
S3P Peer-reviewed Regions: 60

7. Current tools Eye@RIS3 Regional Benchmarking ESIF - Viewer
The is an online database of RIS3 priorities.
Regional Benchmarking
Interactive tool identifying structurally similar regions across Europe
ESIF - Viewer
Search planned investments in ESIF data and visualize in a map.
ICT Monitoring Tool
Search planned ICT investments in ESIF data and visualize in a map, within amounts, keywords and financial forms.
EU Trade
visualization and analysis of inter-regional trade flows and the competitive position of regions in Europe.
R&I Regional Viewer
visualize and compare economic indicators from Eurostat, R&I-related investments under ESIF, and Horizon 2020 funding
RIS3 Assessment Wheel
Assess progress made in drafting/designing a RIS3 – based on the six steps of the RIS3 Guide and 3 critical factors for each step.

8. Smart Specialisation (S3) state of play: from design to implementation
In earlier stages of S3…
Focus on design: developing the concept, helping to understand the S3 method and producing a sound strategic design
…at this stage
Focus on implementing the strategies: project selection criteria, resources reaching beneficiaries, monitoring implementation
Key aspects covered by new S3 Handbook (JRC & REGIO): ( )
Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP): priorities & implementation
Good governance: principles and challenges
From priorities to projects: selection criteria and selection process
Transnational co-operation and value chains
Monitoring

9. S3 in a nutshell – Main lessons from the new S3 Handbook (JRC & REGIO):
1. EDP should be a continuous process requiring inclusive governance, sustained stakeholders’ commitment and participation
2. Continuous stakeholder involvement and the provision for reorienting strategies underlines the importance of re-inventing monitoring
3. Transnational collaboration and learning are crucial for fostering economic growth
4. Transnational learning can help regions to design better governance structures, but different regional contexts demand tailor made solutions
5. S3 should be an integral part of local technology & innovation policy

10. S3P support to implementation: The S3 thematic platforms
Working together to build synergies and find solutions for the optimal uptake of Cohesion Policy funds
JRC knowledge at the service of MS and regions to support Cohesion Policy priorities on energy, industrial modernisation and agri-food, building a model of cooperation from which everybody will benefit - consumers, businesses, competitiveness, science and research

11. S2E Objectives
Innovation potential may be further reinforced & developed by using ESIFs in order to make catching-up MSs & regions more competitive in spatially blind & excellence-based H2020 calls.
Beyond a stronger innovation generation capacity, there is room for increasing the innovation absorption capacity by new MSs in the context of past FP projects.
The project has two main objectives, namely:
The provision of assistance to EU13 to enhance the value of these two EU funding sources for R&I by promoting their combination;
Stimulating the early and effective implementation of national and regional Smart Specialisation Strategies.

12. Stairway to Excellence (S2E): Achievements
Launched in 2014 to support EU13 MSs and regions to develop and exploit synergies between EU funding.
Policy Insights - #1 on "Lessons Learnt from S2E National Events" & #2 on "EU13 Participation in International Science"
National Policy Events & Joint Statements – main challenges and possible actions in each EU13 MS
National and Regional "Facts and Figures" & "Country Reports" of all EU13 MSs - empirical facts and R&I ecosystems
25 Synergy Examples - cases of combined funding
R&I Regional Viewer - visualise main economic and R&I indicators

13. Quality of R&I Governance

14. Innovation and Commercialisation

15. Capacity Building

16. International collaboration and FP
FP network
Co-author network
Policy Insight: EU13 Participation in International Science - forthcoming

17. R&I themes in FP7/H2020 & Alignment with RIS3 strategies

18. Stairway to Excellence (S2E): Way Forward
Coverage expanded to EU28 with emphasis on thematic areas
Continue to undertake and reinforce analytical work
R&I governance
Collaboration networks and knowledge flows
Funding combinations in universities
Mapping and analyses of FP7/H2020 and SF/ESIF data – emphasis on H2020 project data
Quality and impact of national & regional innovation policies investments
Follow up S2E National Events & Joint Statements
Thematically focused multi-regional events
Collaboration with other EU initiatives and bodies – jointly organised events
Facilitating interactions among the relevant authorities and other stakeholders (NCPs, researchers, business etc.)

19. Thank you! http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu 19