S25-S1 Ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the Smart Specialization Strategy
Tracks
Special Session
| Thursday, August 30, 2018 |
| 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
| BHSC_122 |
Details
Convenor(s): Donato Iacobucci
/ Chair: Eleanor Doyle
Speaker
Prof. Marusca De Castris
Associate Professor
Università degli Studi Roma Tre - Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche
Technological capability assessment of firms’ subsidized investment to implement Smart Specialization Strategy
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Marusca De Castris (p)
Discussant for this paper
Eleanor Doyle
Abstract
The Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) has been chosen as ex-ante conditionality by the European Union in order to implement investments for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The idea is that the identification of the existing or potential technology skills at the regional level could be useful to develop effective policy actions consistent with territorial capabilities.
This approach it is not easy to implement. The use of quantitative methods can help to assess and measure the territorial system of technological knowledge, whose identification is particularly complex. Unfortunately, there is still little information on the quality of input and output of enterprises at the level of local production unit, and the related R&D contents. A novel information source, although partial, is traceable in the set of innovative investment projects financed by the National Plan on Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013. For these projects, the Open Data system makes available a short description of the investment, highlighting some technological features.
The following paper proposes a procedure that decodes the description of the investment projects by attributing to each a specific technological priority and then a key enabling technology. This procedure is based on a textual analysis that uses a dictionary of technologies according to a lexicon and a matching algorithm. The technological characterization of the investment is the starting point to measure the technological specialization of the industrial sectors and the regions.
The results can support the implementation of regional S3 strategies.
References:
Bell, M.; Pavitt, K. (1995). The development of technological capabilities. In: Haque, I.U. (Ed.), Trade, Technology and International Competitiveness. Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, Washington, 69-100.
Iacobucci D., Guzzini E., (2016) La ‘Smart Specialization Strategy’ delle regioni italiane e le relazioni fra ambiti tecnologici in "SCIENZE REGIONALI " 3/2016, pp. 5-28.
Reichert F.M., Beltrame Scramm R., Corso K. B., Trevisan M., Zawislak P.A. (2011). Technological Capability's Predictor Variables. Journal of technology management & innovation, 6(1), 14-25.
This approach it is not easy to implement. The use of quantitative methods can help to assess and measure the territorial system of technological knowledge, whose identification is particularly complex. Unfortunately, there is still little information on the quality of input and output of enterprises at the level of local production unit, and the related R&D contents. A novel information source, although partial, is traceable in the set of innovative investment projects financed by the National Plan on Research and Competitiveness 2007-2013. For these projects, the Open Data system makes available a short description of the investment, highlighting some technological features.
The following paper proposes a procedure that decodes the description of the investment projects by attributing to each a specific technological priority and then a key enabling technology. This procedure is based on a textual analysis that uses a dictionary of technologies according to a lexicon and a matching algorithm. The technological characterization of the investment is the starting point to measure the technological specialization of the industrial sectors and the regions.
The results can support the implementation of regional S3 strategies.
References:
Bell, M.; Pavitt, K. (1995). The development of technological capabilities. In: Haque, I.U. (Ed.), Trade, Technology and International Competitiveness. Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, Washington, 69-100.
Iacobucci D., Guzzini E., (2016) La ‘Smart Specialization Strategy’ delle regioni italiane e le relazioni fra ambiti tecnologici in "SCIENZE REGIONALI " 3/2016, pp. 5-28.
Reichert F.M., Beltrame Scramm R., Corso K. B., Trevisan M., Zawislak P.A. (2011). Technological Capability's Predictor Variables. Journal of technology management & innovation, 6(1), 14-25.
Prof. Eleanor Doyle
Associate Professor
University College Cork
Towards RIS3 Via Clustering: Filling Policy Interstices in Irish Regional Development
Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)
Eleanor Doyle (p), Sean O'Connor, Stephen Brosnan
Discussant for this paper
Marusca De Castris
Abstract
Embracing the systemic complexities associated with regional renewal, current research emphasises the potential for non-spatially-blind policies to support regional economic development. In contrast, however, Ireland has instituted regions lacking functional economic meaning and which, in regional administrative terms, have been deemed ineffective due to limited resourcing and design. As institutions tasked with distributing structural funds they have delivered on that purpose. With such a regional policy interstice in Ireland, this paper provides a quantitative organisation and analysis of Ireland’s economic activity from a regional cluster-based perspective. The paper proposes these data as a step in developing approaches at regional levels to support bottom-up economic development, complementing Ireland’s RIS3 approach and appealing to recent progress in Irish regional employment policy. The extent to which sound foundations for regional policy are derived is explored, subject to criteria for policy effectiveness.
