1.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh
Framework Programme for research, technological development and
demonstration under grant agreement number 320131. SmartSpec
Challenges for low
innovation regions
Adrian Healy
Cardiff University

2.
SmartSpec
 Branch plants
 Weak SME sector
 Low tier suppliers in value chains
 Weak connections to universities and research
 Fragmented support structures
 Low levels of trust/credibility
 Political uncertainty/instability
Why is innovation low?

3.
SmartSpec
 Promote upgrading in value chain
 Avoid downgrading in value chain
 Promote new development paths
 Avoid extension of existing paths
choices

4.
SmartSpec
 Attract established researchers to overcome weak
research capacity
 Stimulate new firms and new firm cultures
 Adapt established business support programmes
 Understand your asset base
Opportunities…

5.
SmartSpec
 Attract established researchers to overcome weak
research capacity (Smart Spec targetting)
 Stimulate new firms and new firm cultures (Smart Spec
targetting)
 Link to FDI plants (sponsorship activities)
 Adapt successful business support programmes (Smart
Spec targetting)
 Understand your asset base (Smart Spec targetting)
Opportunities…

6.
SmartSpec
 Not enough options for targetting
 No (or very few) obvious choices
 What about those who are excluded?
 What if we make the wrong choice?
 Surely horizontal is better?
 Where is the big and immediate impact?
Smart Spec challenge

7.
SmartSpec
 State (or external agent) is a crucial actor
 Build capacity and leadership skills
 Strong stable (political) commitment required
 Build trust, flexibility and relations
 Stay close to policy research and learning
 Success is a state of mind – not a document or a strategy
Foundations…

8.
SmartSpec
 Trust your regions
 Don’t focus only on science and technology or on the
role of universities
 Many forms of innovation
 Innovation for what? What is important to you?
 What assets do you wish to promote?
Reflections