1

Experiences from RIS3 support in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

European Parliament Preparatory Action

Karel Haegeman

RIS3 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Aims of preparatory action

To support the refinement and implementation of the RIS3 of REMTh

To generate lessons and a model for other regions

Launchpad for Lagging Regions

To serve as a test-bed for theories on Smart Specialisation

Stakeholder interaction

First focus on the idea – not on the money (demand versus supply driven)

Understand local/regional strengths that fit with

international trends

Local/national/international networks/partnerships

(e.g. halal meat value chain in Thrace)

Bottom-up logic

Hands-on approach in addressing barriers

to implementation

RIS3 implementation triggers discussion on

wider structural issues

Business idea

E.g. R&I in new wine grape varieties

EDP focus group

Idea decomposed

Research and innovation components and fundability:

TO1 and M16

Project Development lab 1 (PDL 1)

Idea refinedPartners, business and

research aspects, roadmap, other funding sources

Online consultation and PDL 2

Peer reviewBoard of critical friends

Analysis of role of KETs

Mapping international R&I

collaborations

Working groups Mobility &Governance

RDI funding guide and case studies

State aid issues

Avoid unfundability of research ánd innovation components

Avoid double funding between national/regional calls

Sustainability/viability

Role for KETs

Need for champions/leaders

Address training needs

Need for international scope

Technical meetings regional/national/EU

Main areas of activity

Mutual Learning

• And building trust

Catalysing the Entrepreneurial Discovery Process

• Structured interaction: focus groups and project development labs

Capacity Building

• Administrative and scientific and technical capacities

Fostering Collaboration

• Within the region and internationally

Challenges and barriers

• Legal, administrative and technical

Codification and communication

Sep

'14

Exploratory visit/kick-off Feb

'15

PeerReview

Jan'15

Critical Friends

(Barcelona) Oct '15

Final event Xanthi

Nov'15

Final event

Brussels

Nov

'14

Jun'15Wine

Jan '15

Feb '15

May'15

Meat & DairyTourism

MarbleSep'15

Chemicals Electronics

• EDP focus groups stakeholder interaction – idea generation

• PDL1 – Integration with policy instruments (ERDF)

• PDL2 – Feedback to stakeholders and reflections on funding

Project Development

Lab 1

Project Development

Lab 2

EDP Fiches

ERDF Fundability

(PDL1)

H2020 Fundability

(PDL2 + Follow up with NCPs)

Analysis of other funds

(Desk research)

Role of ICTs as KETs

(Desk research)

Internationalisation & Collaboration

ERDF detail: specific TOs, CLLD, ITI, etc.

ETC: cross-border, transnational, inter-regional

EU: COSME, ERASMUS+, LIFE+,H2020, EIF, etc.

National: OP Rural Development, etc.

E.g. of project & of stakeholders networks

ICT-based opportunities

•Combine bottom-up and top-down engagement•Review and refine governance system for RIS3•Strategy level•Coordination and management •Innovation and Entrepreneurship Networks•Identification of skills

Go

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RCRI

Team for Coordinating & Monitoring Actions of Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

EIN 1: Agri-food sectorEIN 2: tourism

EIN Emerging sectors (incl. environment, energy, etc.)

EIN e.g. non metallic minerals

EIN 1&2&3

EIN 1&2: agritourism

EIN 1&3

Regional Governor

Regional Council

Co

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ion

&

Mo

nit

ori

ng

Do

cum

enta

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rate

gic

EnterpriseDevelopment Company or Enterprise Support Institution

Research LabIntermediary Bodies

Social organization, Associations, NGO, etc

GuidanceCoordination Support

Intermediation

Guidance Suggestions

Strategy Framework

Suggestions / Action Plans

Strategy, Business Planning, Progress Reports, Feedback, Suggestions, Representation

Source: Governance Working Group / Effie Amanatidou

• Bottom up appoach

• Two types of mobility

• Cross-sectoral

• International

• Proposed steps forward

• Newly established coordination body

• Specific actions (MSCA proposal)

Hu

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s

Wo

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Yian

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To

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Source: HR Working Group / Yannis Tolias

Human resources plan

On-line RDI Funding Guide

Aims

• To provide summary information on funding sources that can support the implementation of the RIS3 in REMTh

• Quick and accessible reference point for stakeholders

Structure

• Describes key characteristics, indicative actions and amounts available

• Filters by organisation "profile" (universities, businesses and public actors)

• Displays national, regional and European funding sources

Application to EDP

• Possible funding sources for selected ideas from PDL2

• Identification of key barriers for idea development and ways forward

• Willingness/openness to collaborate

• Increased trust in the quadruple helix

• Approach 'exported' to other regions

Trust building

and commitment

• Focus on the idea

• Need to align regional strengths, international trends and opportunities

Enhanced understanding of RIS3

• Increased participation of stakeholders in policy activities (EDP focus groups, working groups, online consultations)

Participatory capacity building

• Momentum created and sustained

• Sense of collaboration between actors

• Sustained commitmentOther

RIS3 governance

• Administrative Synchronisation

• Governance structure in progress

• New policy competences

ERDF, ESIF and EU funds governance

• RIS3 administration vs strategy

• International dimension of RIS3

• Synergies with other funds

Governance and administrative challenges to RIS3 implementation

State Aid and Competition Regulation

• How to combine ERDF, EAFRD and ESF funds in support of agri-food value chain in a realistic way?

• Suggestion to establish clear guidelines for appropriate and compliant use of structural funds

• Explore opportunities for peer learning

Other barriers at EC, National, Regional level

• Companies tax debt

Legal and administrative challengesto RIS3 implementation

Limited experience of collaboration

• Within the triple helix

• Across sectors

• Internationally

Limited familiarity with other funding streams

• H2020

• European Transnational Cooperation

Economic and political circumstances

• Crisis

• Political instability

Other challenges to RIS3 implementation

Next steps

Focus on low growth less developed regions

• Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece

• Continue monitoring the experience in REMTh

Toolbox

• Customisable 'implementation toolbox' useful for other regions

Targeted Support & horizontal support

• Develop common and specific activities for each territory

Lessons for other regions Advance RIS3 theory

Objectives Tools

Idea generation, trust building and support

cooperation

EDP focus group methodology

Open up to wider (online) communities Online stakeholder engagement

Address brain drain, build skills Mobility Working Group

Increase coordination between national and regional

levels

Methodology PDL1

Widen funding sources to draw on for idea

implementation

Methodology PDL2

Online RDI Funding Guide

Case descriptions

Optimise RIS3 governance structure Governance working group

Support ongoing stakeholder engagement Stakeholder round table discussions

Identification of barriers and possible solutionsTailored peer review events

Mutual learningBoard of critical friends

Support international cooperation Collaboration spotting tool TimBrowser

Toolbox

Collaboration spotting tool: TimBrowser

Source: JRC in collaboration with CERN

Joint publications and patents related to wine grape varieties

23

http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/remth

RIS3 in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace – Final event - Brussels