1. Latvian Presidency Conference Smart Specialization Strategy
MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
LAMBERT VAN NISTELROOIJ
13 FEBRUARY 2015

2. Regional Innovation Paradox
Most of the available innovation budgets are spent in more developed regions, whereas regions that are lagging behind in economic development need it the most!
Synergies Cohesion policy and Horizon 2020
More ‘made in Europe’ via cross border and trans European cooperation

3. View of the European Parliament
The importance for the European Parliament of the uptake of Smart Specialisation in
Hearing 6th cohesion report
EP initiative: Pilot project — Cohesion Policy and the synergies with the research and development funds: the "stairway to excellence"

4. Synergies EFSI / Juncker plan
Budgetary cuts Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility (2.7 billion euro)
Alternative solution: InnovFin, the former Risk Sharing Finance Facility ( billion euro)

5. Challenges RIS 3 (1)
Take stock of the state of play in the development of Smart Specialisation Strategies. Are all the regions on the same track?
Identify issues to ensure effective and efficient implementation, monitoring and evolution of the strategies (around 100 Ops out of 205 have been agreed)
From Lip-service to 25 flourishing Smart Specialisation projects in the Midterm review 2017

6. Challenges RIS 3 (2)
The assessment of the RIS3 as ex-ante conditionality will be key for the future:
More focus! (thematic concentration)
More ambition! (stimulate private investments)
More integration! (RIS 3 in regional budget plans)

7. What’s next?
Chart out fields requiring cooperation at European level and policy support
Lesson for the region: Regions really have to partner with all research & innovation actors such RTOs and universities in discussion with their local industry in order for RIS 3 to be successful
By the end of the Latvian presidency

8. Thank you for your attention
Questions?