Transnational RIS3 Observatory Model for Smart Specialisation Monitoring on Regional, National and European Level

Smart Specialisation approach is regarded as one of the key pillars in the funding period 2014–2020 of the European Union in order to enhance innovation capacity in Europe. The NUTS-2 level regions evaluate their implementation and rethink their individual strategies for the upcoming funding period 2021–2027 by using their individually developed monitoring systems. For a sufficient comparison of regional performance with regard to the Smart Specialisation approach, the existing monitoring systems seem to lack any comparability. The European regions act like islands when setting up, implement and monitor their Smart Specialisation strategies. Another circumstance detaining a comparable monitoring across Europe is the existence of partly regional and partly national Smart Specialisation strategies.