Smart specialisation: championing the EU’s economic growth and investment agenda? EPC Commentary, 20 July 2017

Hunter, Alison (2017) Smart specialisation: championing the EU’s economic growth and investment agenda? EPC Commentary, 20 July 2017. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Introduced as an ex ante conditionality in the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy, Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) require regions to develop smart priorities and direct investment efforts towards growth-oriented innovation. In the space of only four years, S3 has become widely regarded as a success story across the Cohesion Policy community, as a place-based driver of EU competitiveness. For some regions, it has offered scope to deepen existing practices. For others, S3 has introduced new approaches to achieving innovation-oriented growth. There is, however, quite some distance to cover if S3 is to accelerate its support role in delivering EU growth and investment. This would require redefining the role of S3 and re-positioning this in the post-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF).

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