Theory-based evaluation criteria for regional smart specializations and their application in the Podkarpackie voivodeship in Poland

ABSTRACT

The article proposes a conceptual framework that can be used to identify and verify priority areas selected under the Regional Innovation Strategies in the European Union for the purposes of their evaluation. Five blocks of criteria for evaluation are proposed, referring to specialization and critical mass, diffusion of knowledge, related diversification, international competitiveness and entrepreneurial discovery. For each block, a set of indicators is defined. These were applied to the evaluation of the smart specialization priority areas in the Podkarpackie voivodeship of Poland. This article addresses a need for a more complete list of evaluation criteria for smart specialization areas.

KEYWORD:

• regional smart specializations
• Regional Innovation Strategy
• European Union's research and innovation policy
• policy evaluation
• Podkarpackie voivodeship

JEL:

• O2
• O3
• R58

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author thanks Professor Tomasz Mickiewicz, the editor, Dr Sarah Hands, and the anonymous reviewers for precious remarks, as well as Piotr Sycz for making the website queries and Dr Candace TenBrink, University of Houston – Downtown, for proofreading.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Accessed on 5 October 2019.

2. Regional Innovation Strategy of Podkarpackie 2014–2020.