General information
Code: V5-1645
Period: 1.10.2016 - 30.9.2017
Project leader at FDV: izr.prof.dr. Anže Burger
Research activity: Social sciences
Abstract
Slovenia prepared its first Research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3) in September 2015. Even though the priorites determined according to analytical studies and in an open dialog through the entrepreneurial discovery process, only the first years of RIS3 implementation will be able to show the advantages and shortcomings of the new system of implementation and the chosen detemination of priority areas. The revision of RIS3 in 2008 will therefore provide an opportunity for the strategy structure and implementation to adapt to feedback information and to encompass thematically and methodologically updated empirical toolkit.
The objective of the project is to update and improve analytical backing for the preparation of Slovenian RIS3 in order to provide foundation for its revision in 2018, predominately to improve the designation of priority sectors and areas. The primary issue in this sense is whether the currently defined priorities already include all relevant horizontal and vertical priorities and pillars of economic and RRI activities. Potential inclusion of new priority areas, omission of previously unjustified priority areas or other similar permutations are of secondary issue since basic RIS3 structure already rests on sound and evidence-based analytical foundation. Radical changes in methodology are not only excluded due to the mentioned quality of the present methodological framework, but also due to the principle of stability and predictability of the system and development policy.
Specific goals of the project are as follows:
C1. Comparative analysis of methodological frameworks of RIS3 in other EU member states.
C2. Critical appraisal of present RIS3 analytical tools in the context of international benchmark comparison, methodology presently used and adequate consideration of relevant areas.
C3. Update and expansion of the current analytical methods that are based on business activities of economic subjects and industries.
C4. New analytical tools that will be based on currently unused or underused data sources on business activities of different agents on the market.
C5. New analytical tools based on the data on research, technological and innovation activities of knowledge institutions and their cooperation with business actors.
C6. Comparison of methodological outcomes between East and West cohesion regions.
C7. Critical appraisal of the current methodological framework using the updated methodology.
C8. Specific recommendations for RIS3 revision based on the proposed update of the methodological toolkit and the evaluation of the curent framework.
Project work will be segmented into 3 consecutive parts.
1. The goal of the first workpackage is to idetify deficiencies of the present methodology for preparation of Slovenian RIS3. These shortcomings will be determined as follows:
- benchmark comparison and analysis of RIS3 methodological foundations in other EU member states,
- review of the recent state of the art literature on driversof competitiveness of countries, regions, clusters, firms, and the role different levels of government has in the process of improving competitiveness,
- review of relevant recent domestic analyses and sources on the topic of RIS3 implementation,
- analysis of key emphasis in a series of structured dialogues with the stakeholders during the preparation of the RIS3 document,
- survey of available data, including research and technological development, that could be used in the revised evidence-based analytical framework.
2. The goal of the second workpackage will be to use the identified shorcomings in the previous workpackage in the formulation and testing a revised and upgraded methodological framework. Proposal of updated methodology and its operationalization will be carried out with the following activities:
- analysis of technological fields, R&D and science with the focus on the linkages between business and public and private knowledge creation i
The phases of the project and their realization
The goal of the project was to update with more recent data the set of technologies and industries for which technological and comparative advantages were identified in the previous round of Slovenian Smart Specialisation Strategy – S4 from April 2014. Next, our goal was to introduce and test new methodological approaches and data sources that could enable more informed insight into competitiveness of Slovene economy and its R&D sector. Data and methodological update of technological and export-based comparative advantages revealed substantial change in the set of identified competitive industries and technological areas.
Results show that industries are sometimes inappropriate level of aggregation in the analysis. Namely, many industries with revealed comparative advantage do not substantially differ until the last handful of largest exporters from industries without such advantages. Conversely, some industries without revealed comparative advantage lack only couple of larger exporters to become structurally similar to advantageous industries. We therefore urge policymakers to take into account this qualitative characteristic of the genesis of revealed comparative advantage when determining priority areas and concrete measures.
Business cluster analysis based on input-output tables identified two industries (Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products and Manufacture of food products and beverages) that show the development potential in the role of supply (upstream) industries to already established and competitive clusters. In the revision of S4, policymakers should assess if stakeholders from these industries could be integrated into measures targeting primarily their downstream users.
Examination of research sector has identified fields and research subjects with close connections with business sector. Revision of S4 should therefore verify whether those subjects are already sufficiently integrated into measures targeting preferential sectors and technologies. We propose differentiated approach: for already established research-industry linkages one should assess if further publicly financed augmentation is necessary, while for areas with strong research foundation but weak or non-existent linkages, measures should be focused in establishment of business-research cooperation.
Project's aims were primarily focused on updating and upgrading of analytical methodology and support for identification of strategic areas for intervention based both on the analysis of the strengths and potential of the economy and on an Entrepreneurial Discovery Process priority within the S4. These findings should be complemented with the evaluation of the SRIP (Strategic development-innovation partnerships), operational measures that have been implementing smart specialization strategy in Slovenia.
Research Organisation
http://www.sicris.si/public/jqm/prj.aspx?lang=eng&opt=2&subopt=403&hits=1&id=10376&search_term=V5-1645
Researchers
http://www.sicris.si/public/jqm/prj.aspx?lang=eng&opt=2&subopt=402&hits=1&id=10376&search_term=V5-1645
Citations for bibliographic records
http://www.sicris.si/public/jqm/prj.aspx?lang=eng&opt=2&subopt=400&hits=1&id=10376&search_term=V5-1645
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