the FRAMEWORK

Smart Specialization is an innovative approach of the European Union based on a place-based approach that analyzes the strong points, competitive advantages, and potential of each Region. It recognizes, interacts and collaborates with the stakeholders of the region (Research Community, Business, Public and Civil Society – quadruple helix), who are the main actors in designing a long-term development strategy.

The objective of the Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) is to identify the strategic areas of intervention (Priorities) on which investments will focus.

This Strategy enables the Regions to benefit from the scale, scope and diffusion of knowledge production and use, which are drivers of productivity. Furthermore, it links innovation to specific advantages of the national/regional economy, enhancing competitiveness and entrepreneurship at the level of value chains.

The Smart Specialization Strategy therefore leads to the identification of the unique characteristics and resources of each Region, highlighting their comparative competitive advantages, while gathering local actors and resources around a common vision for their future, driven by innovation and extroversion

the GOALS

• The revitalization of traditional sectors oriented towards activities of higher added value.
• Modernization by adopting and disseminating new technologies.
• Technological differentiation from existing specializations in related fields.
• The development of new economic activities through radical technological and disruptive innovation.
• The exploitation of new forms of innovation, such as open innovation, user innovation, social innovation, and service innovation.

the MECHANISM

The Regional Development Fund of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace has been designated as the competent regional body for the coordination and monitoring of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy. The broader governance ecosystem of the Regional Smart Specialization Strategy includes all the bodies of the quadruple helix that actively participate in its elaboration, i.e. the Regional Council, the Special Management Unit of the Regional Operational Program “Eastern Macedonia – Thrace”, local enterprises, Chambers, research centers and Universities, the public sector, Advisory Working Groups, civil society bodies, etc.

The Advisory Working Groups (informal partnerships formed by the networking of distinguished members of the quadruple helix bodies) will form the core of the effort, as they will contribute to the identification, activation and mobilization of bodies and citizens in the Region that will participate in the Process of Business Discovery, an interactive and participatory process that is going to be implemented and concerns the further specialization of the priorities of the Smart Specialization Strategy.