Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation

epresents a starting point and can be completed and customised according to the specificities,
experience and priorities of each region.
Map regional assets (this mapping should take into account the level of development of CCIs
in the region concerned):
• Identify specialisation patterns in the region through a CCI mapping analysis (mapping
should comprise quantitative as well as qualitative analysis). The European Cluster
Observatory can provide assistance in this type of mapping exercise 105 .
• Identify optimal CCI-specific conditions and develop a positive creative climate to
enhance the attractiveness of the city or the region (creative ecosystem).
• Identify lead organisations and dynamic individuals who are potential partners in
development projects and possible structures for co-ordinating action. In this respect, the
Europe Enterprise Network could provide assistance in organising matching events or
assist in co-coordinative actions 106 .
• Collect, if possible, statistical data and perform qualitative-based surveys to better
understand the dynamics of CCIs to be used for implementing smart specialisation
strategies.
• Perform benchmarking activities to better understand the positioning of the region in the
sector of CCIs in comparison to other EU regions.
Involve all cultural, administrative and political actors in the decision making process
(inclusive approach):
• Develop partnerships between national and regional authorities in charge of different
public policies such as economic development, employment, higher education and
culture. Successful CCI strategies most often depend on excellent internal and external
networks and communication channels involving different levels of administration and
representatives from several CCI sectors.
• Set up platforms, networks as well as clusters in order to support building of
partnerships with representatives from the private sector and allow the creation of
valuable synergies for the regional economic development.
• Promote transnational cooperation to exchange experience on the level of both CCI
SMEs and the authorities in charge of developing local creative strategies as a way to
facilitate knowledge and capacity transfer and accelerate the learning path.
Strategic and inclusive approach to investments and the use of financial resources:
• Streamline regional, national and EU funding support to cover the different needs of the
cultural and creative sectors. Synergies need to be developed in the use of the Structural
Funds, including the European Regional Development Fund, the Creative Europe
framework Programme (2014-2020) 107 , the Business Competitiveness and SME
Programme (2014-2020), Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and
Innovation (2014-2020), tools and instruments developed and tested under the European
Creative Industries Alliance, national and/or regional programmes for the CCIs and
other possible sources of funding.
105 European Cluster Observatory, www.clusterobservatory.eu
106 Enterprise Europe Network, www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu
107 Add reference when programme is adopted on 23 November.
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