Page 113 - Proceeding 2015

NASTASEANU Ariana FAMP
SMART SPECIALIZATION STRATEGIES AND EMPOWERING CITIZENS CCASP

innovative products, services and solutions are developed with the involvement of users in their role as
lead users, co-developers and cocreators (Carayannis, 2012).

What is unique in the business model offered through the new entrepreneurial hubs for spur innovation in
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 11 TH ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Europe (Co-location Centres)? The possibility of receiving tailor-made services, not just ‘picking winner’
model, copying the success story without understanding the specificity of the row model.

Another important characteristic of the smart specialization is that activities, not sectors per se are the

level for setting priority setting for knowledge investments. While sectors still matter, the issue is not to
target sectors but rather activities. Activities can be tied to specific technologies or the technology mix, to
specific capabilities, natural assets etc.

Smart specialisation policies need to have measurable goals, whether it involves an increase in business
R&D, R&D commercialisation or research excellence.

The difficulties occur while applying a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) - type
30 th – 31 st October 2015 ”Strategic Management for Local Communities” Bucharest the criteria are not fit for purpose in terms of assessing the impact, the efficiency and effectiveness of the
analysis for judging the opportunity whether or not to support specific entrepreneurial processes. Most of

activities.

In this evaluation process, all entrepreneurial actors including firms, but also universities and research
centres should be engaged. Engaging them will not only allow policy makers to develop a deeper insight
into the matches and mismatches of their specialisations, but it will also initiate and nurture the necessary

collaboration efforts among these different actors.

If the evaluation exercise shows that some specific capabilities are missing, one should look across the
borders of the region or country and see whether interregional and international collaborations with

stronger partners can be set up. The global value chain perspective offers a valuable framework to support
the attendant discovery and learning processes.

4. SEAL OF EXCELLENCE, SYNERGIES BETWEEN EU FUNDED PROJECTS

Seal of Excellence represents the latest initiative of the EC President, Jean-Claude Juncker for promoting
synergies between the two important EU funded programs: Horizon 2020, the biggest European

Communities program for research and Innovation and the European Structural and Investment Funds.
The undeniable attractiveness of the first mentioned program among researchers, representatives of
industry and SMEs and the success rate which remains very reduced (between 12-15%) should be

reconciled and praised through national, regional or other type of investments. This measure will support

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