Workshop for smart specialisation in industrial modernisation and investment

The workshop will aim at stimulating an interactive debate including policy makers at all levels with the participation of cluster and industry stakeholders about strengthening inter regional cooperation through the recently launched Thematic Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial modernisation and investment (S3P-Industry).

Based on an integrated approach to smart specialisation strategies, industrial modernisation and clusters, S3P-Industry aims to boost innovative projects and investment in Europe. The S3P-Industry achieves this by associating regional authorities interested in the joint implementation of smart specialisation priorities with clusters and industry. The aim of this is to develop a pipeline of quality joint projects for EU funding programmes, including the investment plan. Industry participation in S3P-Industry will be stimulated in conjunction with European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments on different industrial topics, which have been recently selected following a bottom up approach.

The workshop will present the policy objectives and the role that the SP3-Industry and the European Strategic Cluster Partnerships can play to stimulate industry participation and private investments. Participants will hear and discuss concrete examples of how smart specialisation strategies and interregional cooperation both at policy and operational level can be used to boost investment projects supporting industry modernisation. This will help EU regions that have an interest in industry-related areas to better understand the challenges and new opportunities offered by joining the S3P-Industry Platform.