Ainhoa Arrona (p), James R. Wilson

Sanja Arsova

The experimental development of smart specialisation strategies (S3) has posed significant challenges for multilevel governance structures and practices. Moreover, the need for more sophisticated governance is heightened as regional innovation strategies must be increasingly oriented to the transformations required to address complex and multi-faceted social challenges. From the perspective of the changing demands on regional innovation strategies to transition to more transformative strategies (e.g. sustainable smart specialisation -S4-, Partnerships for Regional Innovation pilot), there is an acknowledged need for a more decentralized, systemic and multilevel approach to strategy governance; and to deepen and widen participation and experimentation of the strategies in practice. In this context, the paper explores the concept of `metagovernance’ as an analytical lens to conceptualize and analyse the different roles and activities that governments adopt in their endeavour to facilitate an effective governance. Metagovernance refers to the new role of (primarily) state actors in governing multiple governance networks, though direct facilitation of collaboration and the establishment of norms and rules that will indirectly facilitate collaboration. The paper argues that this concept fits the emerging role of the State in S3, and even more so in S4 and other transformative regional innovation strategies. The article analyses the experience of 4 European subregional governments in their attempt to strengthen the multilevel dimension of their S3 in the framework of an Interreg project, as an illustration of how the concept of metagovernance can be leveraged to improve our understanding of the practice of developing S3 and S4 strategies.

Dagmara Kociuba (p), Mariusz Sagan, Waldemar Kociuba

Ainhoa Arrona

This study aims to present the processes and mechanisms of creating smart city ecosystems by examining the complex strategic choices and interactions among stakeholders operating at dif-ferent levels of governance and engagement. Based on the literature review and in-depth analyses of a case study (Lublin, Eastern Poland) we demonstrate that the implementation of tailored strategic thinking using adaptation to global trends, exploitation of development potentials and niches, and stakeholders involvement allow for coordinating and mobilizing development pro-cesses leading to the creation of effective smart city ecosystems. In line with the defined smart city challenges, with the application of a three-stage research program, we create an implementable Smart City Ecosystem Model (SCEM). The contributions of the study are as follows: 1) provides new insights into smart governance, leadership in creating a sustainable and human smart city; 2) analyses of strategic choices in the creation of a stakeholder ecosystem and competitive business ecosystems based on smart specializations provide new opportunities for the design and im-plementation of smart city strategies. Therefore, the study provides a new multidimensional policy framework for smart and innovative cities at both strategic and operational levels that can improve the holistic management of cities and communities.

Jack Orlik, Julia Staudt, Cristian Matti (p)

Dagmara Kociuba

The challenge of developing an anticipatory system to catalyse transformative change for global transitions requires the capacities of diverse stakeholders and multiple levels of governance. As networks of heterogeneous actors, innovation ecosystems present a promising vehicle for generating future knowledge that enables both ecosystem partners and the government to become more proactive and resilient. Anticipatory approaches such as horizon scanning can help ecosystem partners to leverage complementary areas of knowledge and expertise, align on long-term objectives, identify threats and opportunities and think creatively about strategic innovation fields. However, such methods are rarely used by innovation ecosystems regularly and systematically, nor are there pathways for the knowledge they generate to inform government policy. Based on work conducted in Latvia, this paper provides an illustrative example of generating strategic policy intelligence and laying the foundations for continued futures-oriented collaboration by developing and testing an approach to foster anticipatory innovation ecosystems. This paper aims to contribute new evidence on adopting more substantial participatory modes, such as co-creation models, to shape governance processes for collective anticipation at the innovation ecosystem level. In doing so, it also provides insights into the co-learning process by which two partner organizations identify conceptual and methodological building blocks for co-creating anticipatory capacity in a multistakeholder setting.

Xabier Velasco Echeverria (p), Andrea Goñi Lezaun, Dámaso Munarriz Guezala

Cristian Matti

The 2030 Agenda has become a useful tool for the design of national and regional development strategies. It is also helpful for local government (evolution of Agenda 21), and for private corporations when they have to design some of their Corporate Social Responsibility actions and instruments, as well as for foundations and NGOs. Policies are generally aligned with the goals and SDGs through indicators, that is, goals are established through measurable parameters.
The Navarre Sustainable Strategy 2030 (ENS·2030·NEJ) goes one step further and allows a comprehensive ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the effect that various public interventions have on sustainability through the use of qualities. It is conceived as a framework document and a translation to the regional and local level of international resolutions on sustainable development. It helps in the analysis of the diversity and complexity of regional policies, collecting the systemic approach of the 2030 Agenda. It considers the multidisciplinarity, multiscale, multilevel, and multiple interrelationships with a common goal: resilience and solidarity. It is structured in strategic areas, which bring together transformative policies (those that serve to draw a model of regional development in Navarre in the horizon set by the 2030 Agenda, attempting to address the major challenges identified), and these are broken down into lever initiatives.
The 2030 Agenda can go with other evaluation tools, such as the ENS·2030·NEJ, that allows the assessment of the effects of such policies and enables making management and improvement decisions, even before implementation (ex-ante evaluation). This is also an intelligent and innovative specialization process that goes one step further and, together with S4 (the Smart Specialization Strategy for Sustainability in Navarre) will help to progress in a more quickly and efficiently way towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
In summary, it is considered that the Government of Navarre contributes to innovation in the design and evaluation of sustainable public policies through this set of tools and also to the intelligent development of the region. Furthermore, it takes up and institutionalizes a specific evaluation procedure for sustainability effects that is integrated into the general procedures for public policies evaluation.

Dimitri Corpakis (p), Richard Tuffs (p), Jan Larosse

Xabier Velasco Echeverria

Since the pandemic, the EU has shown a remarkable capacity to adapt to new challenges. The recent Green Deal Industrial Plan confirms the EU’s ambition to invest in the net-zero economy. But this is not the first time that a radical ‘transformation’ has been top of the EU Agenda. Twenty years ago, the ‘Lisbon Strategy’ supported the transition to a knowledge economy and stimulated thinking around regional growth that led to the development of smart specialisation policy (S3).
While the Lisbon Strategy and the Green Deal provide top-down directionality, S3 involves policy design at the territorial level incorporating an ‘entrepreneurial discovery process’ (EDP) with a bottom-up approach to priority-setting, focusing on the articulation of local competitive advantage in a cooperative European setting.
But times change and so must policies and actions including smart specialisation. While it is accepted that S3 works, as it “shows how to build on local assets to strengthen competitiveness and the innovation ecosystem…” adjustments are needed because of new challenges and the need to address effective governance and implementation.
This paper will examine how smart specialisation must now shift from a purely regional competitiveness tool toward a transformational instrument that can encompass changes in other key connected policies (EU industrial and research policies) as well as the Green Deal – the default EU strategy. It will discuss a revised conceptual framework where S3 is part of the multi-level decision framework in the EU for investments in the twin transition and developing resilient regions.
S3 place-based transformation strategies should continue the EDP which should also be informed by European frameworks and criteria such as ESG. Smart specialisation strategy needs to go beyond regional decision makers and include a wide range of institutional players at all decision levels to take account of the impact on investments for research and innovation, industrial capacity, and skills in places. This means that current and future smart specialisation strategies should be assessed for this transformational role. An ‘adaptability criteria matrix’ should determine its degree of compliance with the green and digital transitions.
A revised S3 policy can and should become a methodological and policy driver of a more collaborative European approach for transformation both within and between regions contributing to synergies between future Research and Innovation Policy, Industrial Policy and Cohesion Policy (post-2027) by upgrading conditionalities on interregional collaboration along supply chains thereby increasing European sovereignty.

Sanja arsova (p), Andrea Genovese, Panayiotis Ketikidis

Dimitri Corpakis

Regions are the most important administrative units of the EU’s development policies and regional funds allocation and so far, have been widely used for devising and attaining strategic priorities. Nevertheless, when it comes to regional implementation of the circular economy (CE), there is lack of systematicity both in academic literature and policy documents. Therefore, this study is proposing regions as the optimal scale for CE adoption; due to their controllable economic systems, tactical intermediate position between national and local levels, their deep knowledge and understanding of their local territories, capacities and ability to mobilise relevant stakeholders. Within this context, this empirical study is focusing on the implementation of CE policies at the regional level. More specifically, to investigate whether Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) influence the adoption of CE policies at the regional level and explore the influence of institutional pressures on the implementation of regional CE policies. In order to address the main aim, a three-stage policy Delphi study was designed, targeting regional policymakers and experts in the field of CE and S3. Additional knowledge was mobilised with the involvement of prominent academics and higher-level experts in the EU and UN policymaking process. A brief online survey was initially distributed and 42 participants representing 32 different EU regions responded. Afterwards, 17 semi-structured individual interviews followed, and the findings were validated in a final focus group. This study has found that generally, the EU measures will need to take into account the protagonist role of the regions in many vital aspects of the CE transition. The emerging findings point out to the importance of effective multi-level governance mechanisms and supportive institutional environment as conducive for the development and realisation of the CE initiatives. Additionally, the incontestable links between S3 and CE were corroborated, as well as the strong arguments for adopting a place-based approach for the CE transition. However, the S3 and CE nexus proved to be less deterministic, as concerns regarding the potential risk of regional lock-ins and path dependency issues were also raised. Alongside the theoretical contribution, the findings of this research will have practical implications as well; findings which could be of interest for policymakers at different levels, in terms of decision making and devising regional policies, as well as for practitioners for encouraging bottom-up actions for future implementation of the CE at the territorial level.