ABSTRACT
Smart specialisation (S3) is the European Commission’s approach to regional growth through research and innovation (European Commission, 2010a, 2010b; Midtkandal and Sörvik, 2012). A key feature of S3 is that regions should identify a limited number of priority areas for their activities. A more comprehensive approach in these areas should lead to structural change in the region. The priority areas should be niches in which the region has the potential to have a competitive advantage in the future. It can be in areas of strong regional capabilities or emerging fields in which the region through a collaborative effort of regional and external actors can develop lead markets through systemic innovation.
