Smart Specialization Strategy:

Frédéric Miribel, PhD

June 18th, 2015 – Medellin, Colombia

Origin & Definition

In 2006, Knowledge for Growth (K4G) asks why USA more competitive than EU?

=> Need to focus investment more effectively

• Smart specialisation is a new innovation policy concept designed to promote the efficient and effective use of public investment in research.

• Its goal is to boost regional innovation in order to achieve economic growth and prosperity, by enabling regions to focus on their strengths.

How does it work?: Case Study of Rhône-Alpes, France

• 100 Surveys

• Data analysis

• 6 challenges

• 6 benchmarks Jan-Apr 2013

• 13 seminars with experts

• 1 web site Local platform www.innovation.rhonalpes.fr

May- Jun 2013

• 70 contributions

• Governance

• Monitoring & evaluation tools

Jui-Sep 2013

Analyse Choose Act

How does it work?

• Based on Porter’s competitive advantage but at the regional level:

1. ANALYSE what is unique, original, historic?

2. Define and share a VISION for your region

3. PRIORITIZE and make CHOICE

4. Find the best policy mix to IMPLEMENT

5. Select INDICATORS to refer to

6. Set up GOVERNANCE

7. Evaluate, ADJUST and Control regularly

Focus on what works, support it, make it visible!

How Smart Specialization Strenghtens Regional Competitiveness?

• All local actors looking for market growth

• Stratups looking for financial support

• Human resource looking for the best training

• Companies looking for the best location

Adress specific location criteria

Focus Education and R&D

Adress new

market potential

Dedicated Financial support

Clusters & Smart Specialization

SMART SPECIALIZATION CLUSTERS

Both oriented towards Growth

Clusters facilitate the smart specialization process

Clusters are the premisses of territorial specialization

A new innovation policy Not a policy Clusters exist without policy

Change a territory Strenghen what already exist

New markets Existing sectors

Prioritization Listing

Elements that facilitate SS

• Existence of clusters

• A territory where “working together” is easy

• Natural governance controlling the process

• Not too big a territory (45min drive rule in EU?)

• Link with Financial community: they decide!

• Being a recognize natural global leader

• Culture of cross-fertilization

• RESULTS: 7 Strategic specializations • Personnalized health & infectious diseases

• Industrial process and eco-friendly factory

• Energy networks and storage

• Smart buildings HQE

• Digital technologies and benevolent systems

• Smart mobility systems, technologies and usage

• Sports, tourism and mountain industries

• Cross-cluster collaboration is now happening

• Specific products/places are coming out

Case Study: Rhône-Alpes, France

Lessons Learnt

• Do not try to imitate, be UNIQUE!

• Choose a specialization • not too broad => No specialization!

• Not too narrow => risky business if market failure

• Don’t start it as just another program but more as a countiuous natural process

• Stay in line with future markets

• Keep focus on the results you are expecting!

• Be as flexible as companies are

THANK YOU!

Frédéric Miribel, PhD

Global Markets Director

INVEST IN LYON – ADERLY

miribel@investinlyon.com

www.investinlyon.com