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Methodology approach on benchmarking Regional Innovation on Smart Specialisation (RIS3): a joint macro-regional tool to regional performance evaluation and monitoring in Central Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Laima Gerlitz

    (Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design, Germany)

  • Christopher Meyer

    (Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design, Germany)

  • Christopher Meyer

    (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia)

  • Gunnar Prause

    (Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences, Technology, Business and Design, Germany)

  • Gunnar Prause

    (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia)

Abstract

The current funding period of the European Union 2014 – 2020 advocates the application of the Smart Specialisation approach that has to be implemented on regional level. European NUTS-2 regions shall evaluate and reconsider their regional strategies for the upcoming funding period. Due to the high differences among the regions in terms of existing monitoring systems and policies, the performance measurement lacks a solid basis for a sufficient comparison, exemplification and transfer. In order to reduce this research gap, within this paper, the authors developed a comprehensible methodological tool using a given number of NUTS-2 regions with their distinctive monitoring systems and indicators in Central Europe. The benchmarking process is focusing on deploying existing performance indicators from each regional strategy, analysing them and aiming at developing one common set of indicators. As a result, the developed methodology approach enables sufficient performance comparison in terms of RIS3 implementation in the current funding period on the one hand, and provides a crucial input for the future monitoring system design. As a result, the novel methodological tool yields contribution to both scholarly literature and practitioners. Furthermore, the benchmarking method provides various selection and combination options that allow direct insights in different fields’ performance, such as regional spending to facilitate RIS3 implementation and Entrepreneurial Discovery process implementation as well. With this tool concerned, policy recommendations for the upcoming funding period and updates on the regional strategies can be drawn up.

Suggested Citation

  • Laima Gerlitz & Christopher Meyer & Christopher Meyer & Gunnar Prause & Gunnar Prause, 2020. "Methodology approach on benchmarking Regional Innovation on Smart Specialisation (RIS3): a joint macro-regional tool to regional performance evaluation and monitoring in Central Europe," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(2), pages 1359-1385, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ssi:jouesi:v:8:y:2020:i:2:p:1359-1385
    DOI: 10.9770/jesi.2020.8.2(80)
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    Cited by:

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    2. Christopher Meyer, 2022. "Social Innovation Governance in Smart Specialisation Policies and Strategies Heading towards Sustainability: A Pathway to RIS4?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    RIS3; smart specialisation; benchmarking; Central Europe; regional innovation; monitoring; methodology; common set of indicators;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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