Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
ongoing
IMP3rove
As part of the funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has developed a regional innovation strategy. ERDF funding aims to reduce economic and social disparities between the various regions of Europe. In order to achieve this goal, measures to support innovative and intelligent economic change are subsidised by the ERDF.
The North Rhine-Westphalian innovation strategy is based on the guiding principle of smart specialisation (Regional Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation = RIS3). It focuses on those topics that are of particular relevance for economic and social development in the region and in which the players in the state already have strengths.
Prognos is supporting the state in the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system to measure the success of the innovation strategy for the 2021-2027 funding period.
According to the requirements of the EU umbrella regulation for ERDF funding 2021-2027, monitoring & evaluation systems for smart specialisation strategies must be developed. These systems are intended to measure performance in relation to the strategy's objectives.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia commissioned Prognos to develop and implement a monitoring & evaluation system for the regional innovation strategy of North Rhine-Westphalia 2021-2027.
The state has identified seven fields of innovation that are considered to be particularly important for the future of the innovation centre:
Digitalisation, sustainability (including climate protection and resource efficiency) and innovative business models play a central role in all seven fields of innovation. The state has defined strategic goals for each of the seven fields of innovation.
On the one hand, Prognos developed the methodological and conceptual basis for regular monitoring of target achievement and evaluation of the strategy. On the other hand, we realise the operational implementation in close connection with the overall evaluation of the operational programme for ERDF/JTF funding 2021-2027 in NRW, in which Prognos is also involved. By measuring progress and successes, we support the implementation of the RIS3 strategy in NRW.
In addition, the insights generated help to continuously improve and update the regional innovation strategy (RIS3) for the next funding period.
The monitoring and evaluation system for the regional innovation strategy of North Rhine-Westphalia 2021-2027 (RIS3) relates to all fields of action of the innovation strategy.
Prognos' remit is divided into two strands:
Monitoring:
Evaluation:
Further information on RIS3 in NRW (website)
Our work in the NRW.innovativ competence centre
To the monitoring reports:
The Regional Innovation Strategy (RIS3) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) 2021-2027 forms the strategic framework for strengthening innovation and competitiveness in the state. It defines seven fields of innovation that are geared towards the state's specific strengths and address future potential in areas such as industry, digitalisation, health and energy.
Monitoring primarily serves to continuously monitor progress in the implementation of RIS3 NRW 2021-2027. The 2024 monitoring report continues the stocktaking of the status quo of North Rhine-Westphalia's innovation strategy that began with the previous year's report. In addition, selected secondary data on the performance of the innovation system and the fields of innovation are analysed, which provide important contextual information on developments in NRW.
To the report (PDF, in german)
The overarching aim of this monitoring report is to take stock of the implementation of the Innovation Strategy 2021-2027 of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The 2023 monitoring report is the first to present the implementation status of various RIS3-relevant activities for the years 2021 and 2022.
To the report (PDF, in German)
Project team: Felix Ginzinger, Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer, Vincent Vogelsang
Last update: 17.03.2025
Partner, Head of EU Services
The I3 Support Facility boosts interregional projects in smart specialisation, with Prognos leading the Capacity Building Hub.
Grid operator TenneT has put an important power line into operation in Lower Saxony. Prognos supported the communication for the project.
What will the future look like in the Südstadt district of Rostock? In an innovative and co-creative public participation process, Prognos and the participants developed criteria for a planning concept its further development.
Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities.
How powerful is the green tech industry in Bavaria? What is its economic significance? We examined these questions on behalf of the vbw using our envigos model.
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has been funding the e-bus market ramp-up since 2018. Together with our partners, we have been investigating how effective this funding has been.
The Public Sector Loan Facility is an EU financing instrument to ensure a socially just transition to climate neutrality in the regions. Prognos and partners are evaluating the instrument.
Prognos supports the citizens’ advisory council in incorporating the perspectives of the population into decision-making processes and advises the responsible staff unit of the State Chancellery.
German industry is dependent on raw materials and preliminary products from abroad. On behalf of the Netzwerk Zukunft der Industrie e. V., Prognos analyses the supply chains and provides recommendations for action.
Prognos supports transmission and distribution system operators in the planning and construction communication of the various power line construction projects at the extra-high and high-voltage level.
Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.