The institutional challenges of dynamic regional innovation strategies

ABSTRACT

Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) are widely used to guide place-based innovation policy. However, there is little analysis of the institutional frameworks necessary for implementing multi-actor entrepreneurial discovery processes. This paper explores the evolution of institutions in the Basque Country region over a four-year period. It conceptualizes two levels of institutions: the overall architecture established to pursue an S3; and the micro-processes that emerge to particularize and valorize priorities. The paper highlights lessons relating to the experimentalism of S3, monitoring and evaluation, the engagement of small and medium-sized enterprises and civil society actors, and mechanisms for amplifying the voice of regions.

KEYWORDS:

• place-based innovation policy
• Smart Specialisation Strategies
• institutions
• entrepreneurial discovery

JEL:

• O25
• O31
• R58

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to Edurne Magro and Mikel Navarro for their inputs and discussion during the research process, and to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. See https://www.s3vanguardinitiative.eu/.

2. See https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/thematic-platforms/.

3. The centre-right Basque Nationalist Party has been in government (either in majority or in coalition) for 40 years.

4. This meets three times a year to oversee progress with the S3 and coordinate government actions. It is led by the Presidency Department and includes the departments for Competitiveness and Economic Development, Health, Education, Language and Culture, Environment and Territorial Policy, Employment and Social Policy, Public Administration and Justice, and Treasury and Finance.

5. For further detail, see Aranguren et al. (2016).

6. For further detail, see Aranguren et al. (2019b).

7. See https://euskampus.eus/en/programmes-en/a-medida-en/4gune?set_language=en/.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Basque Government Department of the Presidency and Department of Education, Language Policy, and Culture [grant number IT885-16], and from the European Commission (FP7 SSH.2012.1.1-3, SMARTSPEC) [grant number 320131].