LARS

The project LARS reinforced transnational learning in the implementation of the smart specialisation strategies and contributed to better connectivity of the regional innovation systems across the Baltic Sea region.

The challenge

The global value chains and increased sophistication of production constitute a large challenge for regional development efforts. There is a need to learn and upgrade the level of policy intervention. The regional innovation systems are different but may learn from each other through a process of transnational learning. The challenge is to identify and close gaps in regional and transnational systems of innovation. The project LARS is based on the idea that connectivity between stakeholders in regional innovation system is crucial in the entrepreneurial discovery process where companies, universities and public organisations are at the forefront. Next, a collaboration between smart specialized regions could form the base for macro regional strategies.

The project aimed to help the public sector in leading smart specialisation processes in their regions and to connect innovation networks across regions. It helped find solutions tackling the fragmentation of regional systems of innovation looking for entrepreneurial discoveries within blue growth, bio and circular economy, advanced production methods and technologies for energy efficiency.

Budgets

LARS
in numbers

1.65

Million

Total
1.14

Million

Erdf
0.00

Million

Eni + Russia
0.09

Million

Norway

Achievements

Strengthened transnational learning

For transnational learning, exchange and policy transfer, the project LARS involved organisations from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Most of the partners represented authorities with experience in implementing EU regional policies, but also research institutions with a focus on innovation deliverance, as well as non-governmental organisations.

The project partners started by selecting the value chains out of the already existing that played a vital role in the process of the smart specialisation strategies (RIS3) implementation in their regions. Based on this selection, the project introduced a format for value-chain analysis applying Porter´s company-based model and elaborated a methodology to apply in transnational learning. As a case of transnational learning, the partners studied the implementation of smart specialisation strategies. Moving towards a green transformation as required by the European Green Deal was a driver for the development. The format used in the stakeholder analysis (including stakeholder motivation) based on a classification of urgency, legitimacy and power was adopted towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Policy transfer

The project identified potential good practices and challenges for testing possible transfers of policies. Aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity and governance of Smart Specialisation programs through transfers of good practices, the project analysed various methods. A well-developed method in so-called "translation" of best practices is a "learning history approach". This process is organised through networks between specific pairs of regions who "have something to learn from each other", covering interactions on specific policies, strategies of change and mapping of barriers. Among the participating organisations, the project primarily targeted public administrators working with the materialisation of S3. The purpose was changing their approach to more proactive in innovation system planning, specifically rather "owner-perspective" instead of a neutral "enabler-perspective". In general, the improved institutional capacities would open up new and innovative ways of combining and exploiting regional resources leading to growth and regional transformation.

Outputs

Learning among regions on Smart Specialisation - LARS Policy Advice

The LARS policy advice contains both hands-on advice on how to work with a smart specialisation strategy. The document follows the structure suggested by the smart specialisation platform in Seville in the six steps: 1) Analysis; 2) Vision; 3) Governance; 4) Priorities 5) Policy mix 6) Monitoring. The idea of following the proposed structure is to facilitate the benchmarking of project partner experiences with the European debate on smart specialisation. This report draws on the project experience on how to methodologically link transnational learning with smart specialisation.

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Report on policy transfer

The report contains a guide for selecting the good practices, based on stakeholder interviews where gaps in the 4H innovation networks had been identified. The guidelines help examine the good practice proposed and verify that they will provide a remedy for the gaps discovered. This process includes the following steps: 1) evaluate the development challenges concerning regional connectivity between triple helix actors; 2) check the list and analysis of good practices; 3) evaluate if any of the good practices will match the identified challenges. The report will serve as a basis for research and dialogue among policymakers. Besides, the report includes a list of the selected good practices based on the discussion among regional administrators, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.

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