The document discusses Regional Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3s) and provides lessons learned from past Regional Innovation Strategies (RISs). It defines what makes a strategy "smart" and outlines the key topics and features that will be covered in a forthcoming RIS3 guide, including the EU policy context, governance of RIS3s, design and implementation. The guide aims to provide a step-by-step process for developing smart specialization strategies at the regional level.