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S25-S3 Ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the Smart Specialization Strategy

Tracks
Special Session
Friday, August 31, 2018
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
BHSC_G10

Details

Convenor(s): Donato Iacobucci / Chair: Atilla Varga


Speaker

Dr. Milena Slavcheva
Senior Researcher
Joint Research Centre - European Commission

Regional Innovation Impact Assessment of European Universities: design and development of an evidence-based model

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Koen Jonkers, Robert Tijssen, Milena Slavcheva (p), Athina Karvounaraki, Xabier Goenaga

Discussant for this paper

Atilla Varga

Abstract

One of the assumptions underlying most regional innovation policies in Europe is that local universities make valuable contributions to economic activity (European Commission, 2011). However, in the EC’s renewed agenda for European higher education, an innovation gap is highlighted between universities and their regional economy (European Commission, 2017, p. 4): "Higher education institutions are often not contributing as much as they should to innovation in the wider economy, particularly in their regions. The performance of higher education in innovation varies strongly between EU regions". A recent report of the Independent High Level Group, on maximising the impact of EU Research & Innovation Programmes, argues for an additional performance based institutional funding stream, to support institutional modernisation in terms of flexibility, user engagement and openness (Lamy et al., 2017).

To address this gap, we developed a Regional Innovation Impact Assessment (RI2A) system (Jonkers et al., 2018) that could set a path for performance based funding to European universities which resonates with the Lamy report. The evidence-based RI2A framework may also be used by universities, national or regional governments to assess the contribution of universities to the performance of the local or regional innovation system in which they operate.

We present an outline of the RI2A system, which comprises of three main analytical components:
• quantitative, metrics-based indicators to measure innovation impact and monitor its dynamics (‘numbers’);
• qualitative contextualisation of these indicators potentially supplemented with qualitative evidence of specific impact incidences (‘narrative’);
• integrated analytical framework that focusses on the geographical dimension of outcomes and impacts produced by universities.

We will discuss methodological issues on the possible adoption and implementation of this ‘narratives with numbers’ model.


References
European Commission (2011). Supporting growth and jobs – an agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
European Commission (2017). Communication on a renewed EU agenda for higher education, COM(2017) 247 final. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Jonkers, K., Tijssen, R., Karvounaraki, A., & Goenaga, X. (2018). A Regional Innovation Impact Assessment Framework for universities. Report by the Joint Research Centre, European Commission: Brussels.
Lamy, P. et al. (2017). “LAB – FAB – APP: Investing in the European future we want”, Brussels, European Commission: Report of the independent High Level Group on maximising the impact of EU Research & Innovation Programmes.
Dr. Roberto Palloni
Ph.D. Student
t33 Sound Policy, Università Politecnica delle Marche

Measuring connectivity in S3

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Roberto Palloni (p)

Discussant for this paper

Milena Slavcheva

Abstract

The concept of connectivity proposed by the European Commission in the guide to S3 implementation foresees a strong interaction between European regions in sharing and exchanging research and innovation. In this respect, this concept supports and completes those of coherence, the selection of technological domains closely related to the existing regional knowledge base, and the concept of relatedness, their degree of connection.
Beyond the requirements within the region, the strategic decision on technological domain selection has to take into account its position relative to other European regions, which implies looking for specialisation patterns beyond the regional administrative boundaries.
This is to the aim of pointing regions towards more strategic cross-border and trans-regional cooperation to achieve more critical potential and related variety in research and innovation.
However, the lack of data and the absence of a clear methodology discouraged regions from attempting to analyse and measure any potential connection with potential European partners, neither within national boundaries.
Using patent data to categorize technological domains in each region, the aim of this paper is to explore and empirically assess measures of connectivity both in terms of similarity and complementarity between European regions. Similarity refers to the degree of resemblance in terms of relative specialisation in technological domains between regions. Complementarity defines the degree of integration and specialisation potential when considered in pairs as a unique macro area.
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Dr. Jarosław Nazarczuk
Assistant Professor
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

The role of smart specialisation in the export success of NUTS 2 regions

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Jarosław M. Nazarczuk (p), Stanisław Umiński (p), Tomasz Jurkiewicz, Krystyna Gawlikowska-Hueckel

Discussant for this paper

Roberto Palloni

Abstract

Exporting activity is usually inquired from the country perspective. As more detailed and disaggregated data on exports have become available, this is regional level of the analysis that is more frequently used in the empirical research. The use of regional perspective allows to capture new, interesting aspects of economic activity as well as the consequences of the economic and regional policy. Being inspired by the lumpy countries concept (Brakman & van Marrewijk, 2013; Courant & Deardorff, 1992) and by proliferating stock of literature on regions’ exports (Brodzicki & Umiński, 2017; Cassey, 2011; Gil-Pareja, Llorca-Vivero, Martínez-Serrano, & Requena-Silvente, 2015; Simmie, 2002), we focus on the nexus between smart specialisation(SS) schemes and exporting activity.
Our motivation to perform the research is that the external dimension of SS is usually neglected and has not been researched thoroughly yet. Having data on regional exports for Spain and Poland, we can use the two-country perspective, that makes the research’s conclusions more universal and robust. We have examined SS programmes of the Spanish and Polish regions and “translated” them into particular products, being exported, by enterprises established in Polish and Spanish regions.
The study is based on the evaluation of 4digit CN data on exports, embracing for ca.1300 product groups. Additional data were obtained from QoG EU Regional Data and Eurostat. Using panel fixed-effects(within) regression with Driscoll and Kraay(1998) standard errors on the combined NUTS2 data for Spain and Poland between 2005 and 2015, the authors test to what extent SS facilitates the export success of regions.
We try to verify if the concentration of exports within regions’ smart specialisations is a proper policy orientation, enhancing regions’ international competitiveness/trade openness. Additionally, we analyse the specific composition of regional SS: no. of product groups within SS, the concentration of the no. of product groups within SS compared to overall exports. Finally, we deliberate on the validity of the degree of specialisation among smart specialisation itself as well as the importance of uniqueness/relatedness towards national smart strategies adopted.
The results bring vital implications for the smart specialisation strategy policy by showing:(i) the extent to which the smart specialisations strategy positively affects the regional economies – on the example of region’s trade, (ii) the quality of the smart specialisation strategies’ choice, (iii) international differences among the programmes. Given the obtained results, we also try to formulate recommendations for regional authorities in terms of the most successful characteristics of SS.
Prof. Attila Varga
Full Professor
University of Pécs

Regional impact analysis of alternative paths of smart specialization

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Attila Varga (p), Zsolt Bedő, Katalin Erdős, Norbert Szabó

Discussant for this paper

Jaroslaw Nazarczuk

Abstract

Contrary to what is a common practice in the evaluation of traditional cohesion policy instruments (e.g., R&D, human capital or infrastructure investment subsidies) economic impact modelling has not yet found its place in the evaluation of smart specialisation strategies. Though the necessity of economic impact assessment is emphasised in the theoretical contributions of the smart specialisation literature (e.g., Foray 2015) the practical methodology is still an open issue. In this paper we study the local and national impacts of alternative smart specialisation paths for Pécs, a Hungarian city-region. We follow the steps in prioritisation suggested by the smart specialisation literature. Accordingly, we start with the analysis of the novelty of discoveries followed by the assessment of their embeddedness in the economic structure of the region, their spillover potential and the likely impacts of different supporting policies. The comparison of alternative development paths for different discoveries will lead us to draft some initial policy suggestions.
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