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Experiences from RIS3 support in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
European Parliament Preparatory Action
Karel Haegeman
RIS3 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Aims of preparatory action
To support the refinement and implementation of the RIS3 of REMTh
To generate lessons and a model for other regions
Launchpad for Lagging Regions
To serve as a test-bed for theories on Smart Specialisation
First focus on the idea – not on the money (demand versus supply driven)
Understand local/regional strengths that fit with
international trends
Local/national/international networks/partnerships
(e.g. halal meat value chain in Thrace)
Bottom-up logic
Hands-on approach in addressing barriers
to implementation
RIS3 implementation triggers discussion on
wider structural issues
Business idea
E.g. R&I in new wine grape varieties
EDP focus group
Idea decomposed
Research and innovation components and fundability:
TO1 and M16
Project Development lab 1 (PDL 1)
Idea refinedPartners, business and
research aspects, roadmap, other funding sources
Online consultation and PDL 2
Peer reviewBoard of critical friends
Analysis of role of KETs
Mapping international R&I
collaborations
Working groups Mobility &Governance
RDI funding guide and case studies
State aid issues
Avoid unfundability of research ánd innovation components
Avoid double funding between national/regional calls
Sustainability/viability
Role for KETs
Need for champions/leaders
Address training needs
Need for international scope
Technical meetings regional/national/EU
Main areas of activity
Mutual Learning
• And building trust
Catalysing the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process
• Structured interaction: focus groups and project development labs
Capacity Building
• Administrative and scientific and technical capacities
Fostering Collaboration
• Within the region and internationally
Challenges and barriers
• Legal, administrative and technical
Codification and communication
Sep
'14
Exploratory visit/kick-off Feb
'15
PeerReview
Jan'15
Critical Friends
(Barcelona) Oct '15
Final event Xanthi
Nov'15
Final event
Brussels
Nov
'14
Jun'15Wine
Jan '15
Feb '15
May'15
Meat & DairyTourism
MarbleSep'15
Chemicals Electronics
• EDP focus groups stakeholder interaction – idea generation
• PDL1 – Integration with policy instruments (ERDF)
• PDL2 – Feedback to stakeholders and reflections on funding
Project Development
Lab 1
Project Development
Lab 2
EDP Fiches
ERDF Fundability
(PDL1)
H2020 Fundability
(PDL2 + Follow up with NCPs)
Analysis of other funds
(Desk research)
Role of ICTs as KETs
(Desk research)
Internationalisation & Collaboration
ERDF detail: specific TOs, CLLD, ITI, etc.
ETC: cross-border, transnational, inter-regional
EU: COSME, ERASMUS+, LIFE+,H2020, EIF, etc.
National: OP Rural Development, etc.
E.g. of project & of stakeholders networks
ICT-based opportunities
•Combine bottom-up and top-down engagement•Review and refine governance system for RIS3•Strategy level•Coordination and management •Innovation and Entrepreneurship Networks•Identification of skills
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RCRI
Team for Coordinating & Monitoring Actions of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
EIN 1: Agri-food sectorEIN 2: tourism
EIN Emerging sectors (incl. environment, energy, etc.)
EIN e.g. non metallic minerals
EIN 1&2&3
EIN 1&2: agritourism
EIN 1&3
Regional Governor
Regional Council
Co
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Mo
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ng
Do
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EnterpriseDevelopment Company or Enterprise Support Institution
Research LabIntermediary Bodies
Social organization, Associations, NGO, etc
GuidanceCoordination Support
Intermediation
Guidance Suggestions
Strategy Framework
Suggestions / Action Plans
Strategy, Business Planning, Progress Reports, Feedback, Suggestions, Representation
Source: Governance Working Group / Effie Amanatidou
• Bottom up appoach
• Two types of mobility
• Cross-sectoral
• International
• Proposed steps forward
• Newly established coordination body
• Specific actions (MSCA proposal)
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On-line RDI Funding Guide
Aims
• To provide summary information on funding sources that can support the implementation of the RIS3 in REMTh
• Quick and accessible reference point for stakeholders
Structure
• Describes key characteristics, indicative actions and amounts available
• Filters by organisation "profile" (universities, businesses and public actors)
• Displays national, regional and European funding sources
Application to EDP
• Possible funding sources for selected ideas from PDL2
• Identification of key barriers for idea development and ways forward
• Willingness/openness to collaborate
• Increased trust in the quadruple helix
• Approach 'exported' to other regions
Trust building
and commitment
• Focus on the idea
• Need to align regional strengths, international trends and opportunities
Enhanced understanding of RIS3
• Increased participation of stakeholders in policy activities (EDP focus groups, working groups, online consultations)
Participatory capacity building
• Momentum created and sustained
• Sense of collaboration between actors
• Sustained commitmentOther
RIS3 governance
• Administrative Synchronisation
• Governance structure in progress
• New policy competences
ERDF, ESIF and EU funds governance
• RIS3 administration vs strategy
• International dimension of RIS3
• Synergies with other funds
Governance and administrative challenges to RIS3 implementation
State Aid and Competition Regulation
• How to combine ERDF, EAFRD and ESF funds in support of agri-food value chain in a realistic way?
• Suggestion to establish clear guidelines for appropriate and compliant use of structural funds
• Explore opportunities for peer learning
Other barriers at EC, National, Regional level
• Companies tax debt
Legal and administrative challengesto RIS3 implementation
Limited experience of collaboration
• Within the triple helix
• Across sectors
• Internationally
Limited familiarity with other funding streams
• H2020
• European Transnational Cooperation
Economic and political circumstances
• Crisis
• Political instability
Other challenges to RIS3 implementation
Next steps
Focus on low growth less developed regions
• Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece
• Continue monitoring the experience in REMTh
Toolbox
• Customisable 'implementation toolbox' useful for other regions
Targeted Support & horizontal support
• Develop common and specific activities for each territory
Lessons for other regions Advance RIS3 theory
Objectives Tools
Idea generation, trust building and support
cooperation
EDP focus group methodology
Open up to wider (online) communities Online stakeholder engagement
Address brain drain, build skills Mobility Working Group
Increase coordination between national and regional
levels
Methodology PDL1
Widen funding sources to draw on for idea
implementation
Methodology PDL2
Online RDI Funding Guide
Case descriptions
Optimise RIS3 governance structure Governance working group
Support ongoing stakeholder engagement Stakeholder round table discussions
Identification of barriers and possible solutionsTailored peer review events
Mutual learningBoard of critical friends
Support international cooperation Collaboration spotting tool TimBrowser
Toolbox
Collaboration spotting tool: TimBrowser
Source: JRC in collaboration with CERN
Joint publications and patents related to wine grape varieties
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http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/remth
RIS3 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace – Final event - Brussels