all projects

The potential of smart
specialisation strategies

Year

2023

Partner

Prof. Dominique Foray


Together with Prof Dominique Foray (Professor (em) of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) Prognos AG has prepared a Policy Brief on the potential of Smart Specialisation Strategies to contribute to structural and transformation processes. The Policy Brief emerged from the joint work for studies on the topic of Smart Specialisation Strategies for the European Commission. As a result, the Policy Brief shows that Smart Specialisation Strategies can make a important contributions to structural and transformation processes. At the same time, it is emphasised that the specific design of project calls within the framework of Smart Specialisation Strategies is central to the contribution of Smart Specialisation Strategies to structural and transformation processes.

It's all about implementation

The policy brief evaluates the potential of Smart Specialisation Strategies to contribute to the implementation of structural transformation processes for political decision-makers at the national and regional levels.

The results confirm that Smart Specialisation Strategies can make significant contributions to structural and transformation processes. However, the full potential is only realized when the new generation of innovation processes can effectively resolve the tension between planned (top-down) and decentralized (bottom-up) activities through effective process management.

Smart Specialisation Strategies are characterized by strong planning components. However, the planning logic of Smart Specialisation Strategies must be complemented by a bottom-up process. Space must be created for businesses to encounter specific problems, gaps, and opportunities in structural transformation itself.

Planning and bottom-up insights are, therefore, the inseparable logic of Smart Specialisation.

Furthermore, the paper emphasizes that transformation processes cannot be implemented solely through the determination of S3 priorities. A transformation roadmap must be developed and implemented through the use of the right policy instruments.

The paper shows, for example, that poorly designed project tenders can hinder effective transformations despite relevant S3 priorities.

The urgent recommendation is, therefore, to raise awareness among policymakers about the importance of properly designing project tenders so that the desired transformation can be effectively implemented

Our approach

The Policy Brief draws on the results of the study on prioritisation in Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU and the follow-up study on Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU. Among other things, a quantitative study design based on big data analysis was chosen to assess the key parameters of smart specialisation strategies.

Links and downloads

Policy Brief (PDF)

Previous studies

Smart Specialisation I Prognos

Follow-up study on smart specialisation strategies in the EU I Prognos

Project team: Dr. Jan Kramer, Lennart Galdiga

Last update: 7.11.2023

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer

Vice Director, Head of EU Services

View profile

Lennart Galdiga

Consultant

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Green Tech: Digital technologies and sustainability

ongoing
| Project

The Federal Ministry of Economics promotes digital technologies that drive forward the economy’s green transformation. Together with partners, we are responsible for the accompanying research.

Evaluation of the Eurostars-2 funding programme

ongoing
| Project

Eurostars supports cross-border research cooperation of SMEs in Europe. On behalf of the BMBF, Prognos analyses the effectiveness of the Eurostars-2 programme at national level.

Purpose Economy model

2023
| Project

Could purpose become the model for business and society? We investigated this as part of our work for the Future Office and compared it with other scenarios.

Evaluation of the federal grants to GTAI

2022
| Project

The aim of Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) is to promote German foreign trade. Prognos investigated whether they are using their budget effectively.

Evaluation of Eurostars-2, the European SME support programme

2023
| Project

On behalf of the EU Commission, Prognos and its partners examined the Eurostars-2 SME fund-ing programme as part of the evaluation study of the European Framework Programmes Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.

Accompanying research on the FONA strategy

ongoing
| Project

The Research for Sustainability (FONA) funding programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Will this target be achieved and which methods can be used to measure this? We investigate this together with partners for the BMBF.

The future of trust in digital worlds

2022
| Project

The internet is creating new forms of interaction that, in order to function, require our trust. Do we put our trust in technology or people? A BMBF Future Office study provides answers.

Germany’s innovation leaders 2022

2022
| News

We analysed the patent applications of 180,000 innovative companies worldwide and identified the innovation leaders in 500 technology fields – for the F.A.Z.-Institute and the IMWF Institute.

Evaluation of the EU Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes

ongoing
| Project

Through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, the EU Commission promotes research and innovation in Europe. Prognos evaluates parts of the funding programs.

Accompanying the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative

ongoing
| Project

The CCRI focuses on the implementation of a circular economy in European cities and regions. Prognos is supporting the initiative as a project partner in the associated Coordination and Support Office.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

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.

Learn more