The Status, Characteristics and Potential of SMART SPECIALISATION in Nordic Regions
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The status, characteristics and potential of SMART SPECIALISATION in Nordic Regions By Mari Wøien, Iryna Kristensen and Jukka Teräs NORDREGIO REPORT 2019:3 nordregio report 2019:3 1 The status, characteristics and potential of SMART SPECIALISATION in Nordic Regions By Mari Wøien, Iryna Kristensen and Jukka Teräs NORDREGIO REPORT 2019:3 Prepared on behalf of the Nordic Thematic Group for Innovative and Resilient Regions 2017–2020, under the Nordic Council of Ministers Committee of Civil Servants for Regional Affairs. The status, characteristics and potential of smart specialisation in Nordic Regions Nordregio Report 2019:3 ISBN 978-91-87295-67-6 ISSN 1403-2503 DOI: doi.org/10.30689/R2019:3.1403-2503 © Nordregio 2019 Nordregio P.O. Box 1658 SE-111 86 Stockholm, Sweden [email protected] www.nordregio.org www.norden.org Analyses and text: Mari Wøien, Iryna Kristensen and Jukka Teräs Contributors: Ágúst Bogason, Eeva Turunen, Laura Fagerlund, Tuulia Rinne and Viktor Salenius, Nordregio. Cover: Taneli Lahtinen Nordregio is a leading Nordic and European research centre for regional development and planning, established by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1997. We conduct solution-oriented and applied research, addressing current issues from both a research perspective and the viewpoint of policymakers and practitioners. Operating at the international, national, regional and local levels, Nordregio’s research covers a wide geographic scope, with an emphasis on the Nordic and Baltic Sea Regions, Europe and the Arctic. The Nordic co-operation Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. The Nordic Council of Ministers is a forum of co-operation between the Nordic governments. The Nordic Council of Ministers implements Nordic co-operation. The prime ministers have the overall responsibility. Its activities are co-ordinated by the Nordic ministers for co-operation, the Nordic Committee for co-operation and portfolio ministers. Founded in 1971. The Nordic Council is a forum for co-operation between the Nordic parliaments and governments. The Council consists of 87 parliamentarians from the Nordic countries. The Nordic Council takes policy initiative s and monitors Nordic co-operation. Founded in 1952. Stockholm, Sweden, 2019 Table of contents Foreword............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 11 1. Conceptual framework ...................................................................................................................13 2. Policy review ........................................................................................................................................... 18 3. Methodology........................................................................................................................................... 29 4. Nordic regional case studies ...................................................................................................... 34 Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 FINLAND: KYMENLAAKSO ....................................................................................................................... 36 SWEDEN: STOCKHOLM ............................................................................................................................ 43 DENMARK: MIDTJYLLAND ........................................................................................................................ 52 NORWAY: NORDLAND ............................................................................................................................... 57 ICELAND ......................................................................................................................................................... 69 THE ÅLAND ISLANDS ................................................................................................................................. 77 5. Cross-case analysis .......................................................................................................................... 81 6. Key findings and policy recommendations ....................................................................83 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 93 Annex 1 ............................................................................................................................................................. 107 nordregio report 2019:3 5 List of Abbreviations AIKO (Finland) Alueelliset innovaatiot ja kokeilut (Regional innovations and experiments) EDP Entrepreneurial discovery process ELY-Centre Finnish Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment ERDF European Regional Development Fund EU European Union FD (Norway) Finansdepartementet (Ministry of Finance) KMD (Norway) Kommunal- og Modernisering Departmentet (Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation) RCN Research Council of Norway R&D(&I) Research and Development (and Innovation) RIS3 Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation S3 Smart Specialisation Strategy SMEs (Micro) Small and Medium-sized Enterprises nordregio report 2019:3 6 Foreword This report arose from research undertaken by tions across regions, the Nordic countries provide Nordregio on behalf of the Nordic Thematic Group a comparative perspective of the possible methods for Innovative and Resilient Regions 2017–20201 of applying smart specialisation, both in the region under the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Committee itself and in Europe more widely. The report high- of Civil Servants for Regional Affairs. The work lights the enabling and impeding factors and offers programme for the Nordic Thematic Group for In- policy recommendations for working with smart novative and Resilient Regions 2017–2020 listed specialisation in future. Thus, it aims to provide a three themes that create a foundation to under- solid background and policy recommendations for stand the factors that support the creation of deliberation in the process of developing a smart innovative and resilient regions across the Nordic specialisation strategy. countries. These prioritised themes were resilience, The close collaboration between the Nordic smart specialisation (S3) and digitalisation. The Thematic Group for Innovative and Resilient Regions three themes are closely interlinked from a regional and Nordregio was crucial for the creation and de- development perspective; therefore, their comple- velopment of this report in terms of the valuable mentarities are considered throughout the entire discussions, support and guidance provided in this implementation process. working relationship. The editors would like to ex- This report explores the concept of smart press their gratitude to the thematic group for specialisation in the Nordic context and offers an creating a supportive and stimulating milieu in the analysis of the added value of smart specialisation final months leading up to the publication of this as a tool for regional growth in this region. The in- report. The report has also benefitted from the depth study on smart specialisation was carried editorial and administrative tasks undertaken by out in the period from 2017 to 2018 and drew on Mari Wøien and Jukka Teräs at Nordregio. the insights and experiences of regional stakehold- Finally, this study is valuable from the view- ers and relevant national actors. The thematic point of Nordic ministries and institutions in devel- group and its secretariat are grateful for the time oping their innovation and research and develop- and effort spent by these regional and national ment (R&D) policy work. It contributes to the actors in providing relevant information and ena- framework for the adaptation of smart specialisa- bling the empirical research for this in-depth study. tion in the Nordic Region. Smart specialisation is gaining momentum in Europe due to an ex ante conditionality for the Eu- ropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Nordic Region is well-suited to spearheading the Mr. Mikko Huuskonen assessment of the concept’s added value. Given Chair of the Nordic Thematic Group for Innovative the relatively strong regions and similar institu- and Resilient Regions 2017–2018 1 More information on the Nordic Thematic Group for Inno vative and Resilient Regions 2017–2020 is available on Nordregio's website. nordregio report 2019:3 7 Executive summary