Smart specialisation : what role for science centres and science communication? Richard Tuffs

1. Smart specialisation: what role for science centres and science communication? Richard Tuffs ERRIN director@errin.eu Brno May 14th 2012 www.errin.eu

2. Setting the scene • Future structural fund programmes from 2014-2020 will require each region to draw up a research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3) in order to obtain European structural funds. • According to the European Commission, the elaboration of this strategy should involve stakeholders such as universities, local industry, research and technology centres, innovation agencies and social partners, etc. Does the ‘etc.’ include science centres? • The smart specialisation strategy will involve setting research and innovation priorities for cities and regions which then can then be funded via future structural funds more focussed on research and innovation or through the future research and innovation policy ‘Horizon2020’. • Should science centres be involved in this process and if so how?

3. Content ERRIN Mission Policy context Smart specialisation Science centres and smart specialisation Discussion References

4. ERRIN is a Brussels-based platform of regions strengthening regional research and innovation capacities by exchanging information, sharing best practice, supporting project development, policy shaping and profile raising.

5. ERRIN helps regions get their voice heard in Brussels and supports the implementation of the Europe2020 Strategy and the Innovation Union flagship initiative and Smart Specialisation.

6. Policy context Smart specialisation a key aspect of future Cohesion Policy and driven by the Common Strategic Framework 2014-2020 informed by:

7. Innovation – the name of the game • The knowledge and innovation capacity of regions depends on many factors • the business culture, • work force skills, education and training institutions • innovation support services, technology transfer mechanisms • R&D and ICT infrastructure • the mobility of researchers, • business incubators, • new sources of finance and the local creative potential • good governance • Performance in R&D and innovation varies markedly across the EU…

8. Regional innovation performance

9. Future structural funds • 2014-2020 budget = €336 billion (Commission proposal) • Structural funds can be spent on eleven key themes based on Europe 2020 priorities: • Smart • Sustainable • Inclusive • Regions will be asked to deliver a smart specialisation strategy in order to obtain European Regional Development Funds (ERDF)

10. Thematic objectives - smart Strengthening Research, Technological Development of innovation Enhancing access to and use of ICT Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy In more developed and transition regions, at least 80% of ERDF resources at national level should be allocated to supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy (energy efficiency and renewables) (20%), R&I and SME competitiveness. These amounts are foreseen at 50% and 6% in less developed regions. 80%

11. Thematic objectives - sustainable 5. Promote climate change adaptation 6. Protect the environment and promote resource efficiency 7. Promote sustainable transport

12. Thematic objectives - inclusive 8. Promote employment and labour mobility 9. Promote social inclusion 10. Invest in education, skills and lifelong learning 11. Enhance institutional capacity and efficient public administration

13. What is Smart Specialisation 1 • Rather than being a strategy imposed from above, smart specialisation involves businesses, research centres and universities working together to identify a region’s most promising areas of specialisation, but also the weaknesses that hamper innovation. • It takes account of the differing capacities of regional economies to innovate.

14. What is Smart Specialisation 2 • Strategic intelligence is needed to identify the high value-added activities which offer the best chance of strengthening a region’s competitiveness. • To have most impact, R&D and innovation resources need to reach a critical mass and to be accompanied by measures to increase skills, education levels and knowledge infrastructure. • Smart specialisation strategies can ensure a more effective use of public funds and can stimulate private investment. They can help regions to concentrate resources on few key priorities rather than spreading investment thinly across areas and business sector.

15. Smart specialisation - the process • Smart specialisation needs to be interactive, regionally-driven and consensus-based as theinnovation process is increasingly a collective social endeavour depending on the inter-organisational capacity to absorb, generate and exchange knowledge in a timely and cost-effective manner. • The regional level is the most important part of the process, not least because no one has a greater commitment to, or knowledge of a region than the individuals and organisations that are based there.

16. Smart Specialisation: 4Cs 1. (Tough) Choices: limited number of priorities on the basis of own strengths and international specialisation – avoid duplication and fragmentation in European R&D Area 2. Competitive Advantage: mobilize talent by matching RTD + I capacities and business needs through an entrepreneurial discovery process 3. Critical Mass: Clusters and Connectivity: develop world class clusters and provide arenas for related variety/cross-sectorial links internally in the region and externally, which drive specialised technological diversification 4. Collaborative Leadership: efficient innovation systems as a collective endeavour based on public-private partnership (quadruple helix) – experimental platform to give voice to un-usual suspects

17. What is Smart Specialisation ? =evidence-based: all assets = no top-down decision, but dynamic/entrepreneurial discovery process inv. key stakeholders = global perspective on potential competitive advantage & potential for cooperation = source-in knowledge, & technologies etc. rather than re-inventing the wheel =priority setting in times of scarce resources = getting better / excel with something specific = focus investments on regional comparative advantage = accumulation of critical mass = not necessarily focus on a single sector, but cross-fertilisations “…The elements of economic productivity – strong infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and interrelated networks of firms – come together with smart economic strategy on the regional level to drive prosperity”. (Guidance on developing place-based policies for the USA FY 2012 Budget)

18. Smart Specialisation Guide S3 Platform Smart Specialisation centre in Seville Smart Specialisation Guide http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/activities/research-and-innovation/documents/guide/draft_12_12_2011.pdf

19. Smart Specialisation and Universities Universities key part of the triple helix (Business/Regional government and Research Institutes and Higher Education) Proximity-driven research is key to S3

20. Connecting universities to regional growth Regional capacity building Social and cultural development Regional innovation Higher Education Human capital and skills development John Goddard, Newcastle University

21. Discussion: smart specialisation and science centres • From the literature - science centres seen as outside the process: is this a problem? • What can science centres bring to the process? • STI – science, technology, innovation • DUI – doing, using, interacting • What can they bring to the chosen strategy? • How can they benefit from a smart specialisation strategy

22. Process • Knowledge of science and awareness of region’s capacities • “Entrepreneurial actors must therefore be understood in a broad sense to include inter alia firms, higher education institutions, public research institutes, independent innovators; whoever is best placed to discover the domains of R&D and innovation in which a region is likely to excel given its existing capabilities and productive assets” S3 Guide • e.g. Key enabling technologies (micro and nanoelectronics, advanced materials, industrial biotechnology, photonics, nanotechnology and advanced manufacturing systems) • Communication skills – communicating to different publics • Supporting a ‘bottom up’ and ‘entrepreneurial discovery process’

23. Content • Science centres can play a supportive role in developing learning materials for chosen specialisations e.g. key enabling technologies • Science centres can play a ‘boundary spanning role’ or intermediary role in linking smart specialisation strategies to the public • Science centres can help build consensus on strategies • Science centres can be used as communication hubs for the smart specialisation strategy

24. Connecting science centres to regional growth ? ? ? Science Centres ?

25. Conclusion • Smart specialisation will be a key aspect of future structural funds and regional innovation strategies • Science centres and science communicators have a role to play in the development of smart specialisation strategies • Science centres and science communicators should engage themselves in the smart specialisation processes in their regions/cities

26. 3 rue du Luxembourg B-1000 Brussels director@errin.eu www.errin.eu Richard Tuffs Director For Listening

27. References • Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020 • http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/smart_growth/comm2010_553_en.pdf • Smart specialisation platform - Seville • http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/home • Guide to Smart Specialisation • http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=e50397e3-f2b1-4086-8608-7b86e69e8553&groupId=10157 • Note de refléxion (in French) • http://economie.wallonie.be/new/IMG/pdf/Smart_Specialisation.pdf • Knowledge for growth group – start of smart specialisation • http://ec.europa.eu/invest-in-research/monitoring/knowledge_en.htm • Professor Dominique Foray – leading thinker on Smart Specialisation • http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/activities/research-and-innovation/documents/Events/003/Smart%20Specialisation%20-%20From%20idea%20to%20instrument.ppt • Key enabling technologies • http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ict/files/communication_key_enabling_technologies_sec1257_en.pdf