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OECD-Gwangju Workshop on Smart Specialization

Session V: Extension of Smart Specialisation to Other regions: Concepts and Considerations

Synchronization of National and Regional Innovation Strategies: the

case of Spain

Roberto Sánchez Sánchez SG Competitividad y Desarrollo Empresarial

General Direction for Innovation & Competitiveness

April 4, 2013

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Central Government Parliament (Two Cameras)17 Regions (Government &

Parliament)2 Autonomous Cities

Area: 504,750 km2

Population: 46.125.154GDP: 1.063.355 Million €GDP /capita: 23.271 €

General Background information

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Less Developed RegionsGDP per capita < 75% UE average

Transition RegionsGDP per capita >75% & < 90% UE

Developed RegionsGDP per capita > 90% UE

CanariasGuyanaReunión Guadalupe/MartinicaMadeiraAzoresMalta

Spanish Regions in the European context

Background information

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Regional R&D Expenditure as % of GDP

R&D Expenditure in Million €

R&D information

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Innovation Ranking

IUS 2011Spain: 18th (Moderate

Innovators)Few Regions Ranking

Medium –High Innovators

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Strategic framework

One single nationwide Strategy (EECTI)Common for all the Regions (directly involved in its design and approval process).Sharing objectives, challenges, instruments and indicators.Wide stakeholders involvement in its definition and implementation.Based on realistic diagnostic and SWOT analysis.

To be developed through:National RDI Plan (PEICTI) &

Regional strategies RIS3http://www.mineco.gob.es

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Spanish Strategy development

Spanish Strategy

National Plan PEICTI2013-2016

(2017-2020)

Regional StrategiesRIS-3

2013-2020

Policy development Instruments

Coordination Instruments

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Regional and national coordination framework / 1

Science, Technology & Innovation General Council

Central Government10 Departments (represented by the Heads of the Ministries): Economy (RDI) + Sectorial policiesMinistries (Industry, energy, environment, agriculture, health,…)

RegionsAll the regions represented by the heads of their departments related with RDI.(one or more dependent on the region)

Executive Committee(General Directors)

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Regional and national coordination framework / 2

The RDI Network is configured as the meeting point for all the stakeholders whose mission is to contribute in the development of the innovation in Spain, either at national and regional level.

RDI NETWORK

The main objectives are:

To optimize the design, the implementation and the development of the current and future public measures and instruments to support the innovation, contributing to the better expending of the public funds.

To promote the innovation in the Spanish companies

To contribute to reach the goals established in the National and Regional Strategies.

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• To avoid duplication in the definition of programs and use of resources

• To foster the cooperation and dialogue among the different administrative levels

• To generate synergies between actors and increase the support of innovation activities

• To improve the information systems

• To propose ways to increase the use of the programmes funded with ERDF

• To identify priorities in knowledge areas and / or sectors

Regional and national coordination framework / 3

Key issues of the objectives are:

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1. Generation of knowledge and management of information to allow a better coordination of policies and programs.

2. Actions for better spending of the public funds, in particular ERDF “Technological Fund”

3. Best practices exchange

Lines of action

Regional and national coordination framework / 4

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Technical Secretariat is in charge of

coordination tasks, promotion and

implementation of the activities of the

Network as a whole, being the link

between the permanent members

(Chairs and Plenary) , the ATIs and NCIs.

Regional and national coordination framework / 5

RDI Network Structure

The Nodes Cooperation for Innovation (NCIS) are advisory and consulting firms whose primary mission is to help in identifying projects for better spending the public funds:

Identify cooperative R&D projects to be cofunded and submitted to National Calls.

Identify best practices in R&D.

Produce useful information on the implementation of ERDF Fund in Spain and making recommendations for improving the performance and coordination of policies and programs for innovation support.

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Structure: ATIs – Members

Regional and national coordination framework / 5

The Territorial Agents of Innovation (ATIs) are regional actors whose mission is:

to contribute to a better articulation between the objectives of the regional and national strategies for improving innovation

to help in the articulation of regional innovation strategies with supporting frames and European Funds, relying in the activity of the Nodes Cooperation for Innovation

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• The RDI Network plays an important role in the definition and development of the Regional RIS3 Strategies

• Through their working groups allows open discussions between stakeholders and policy makers national and regional to solve technical issues.

• The open discussions and the conclusions facilitates the formal decision making process, alleviating regional- national discrepancies and disputes.

• A good example of the success of this working groups are the so called Interregional Thematic Tables (MTIs) where by groups several regions together with the NCIs discuss about specific topics related with RIS3 methodological definition or implementation:

Entrepreneurial discovery, Specialization, Governance,...

Regional and national coordination framework / 6

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One best case of coordination

The RDI Platform for Offshore Wind Power

From traditional fixed-bottom wind turbines to floating wind turbines

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BackgroundGreen Energies

Spain has a sound background on renewable energies:

It counts with specialised R&D institutions, manufacturing, developing and power supply companies worldwide recognised, leaders in production and distribution of renewable energies.

Spain is the leader in wind power generation in Europe and the 4th worldwide. Is the country with more Thermo solar energy capacity installed and the second worldwide producer of photovoltaic energy.

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R&D Platforms for Green EnergiesOne example of the R&D platforms installed in Spain is the Solucar Centre, located near Seville in the South of Spain

The Solucar Centre combines operational plants and probably the biggest RDI Platform for Solar Energy.

In this centre are located the two first solar tower plants in operation (PS10 and PS20)

Background

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To develop an RDI Platform for Offshore Wind Power, with the focus on floating wind turbines

Based on the discovery process lead by ALINNE (Strategic Alliance for Energy) and the Technological Platforms in the framework of the European SET Plan (Strategic Energy Technology).

To developed and evolve to another segment of the green energies.

Taking advantage of the continental platform of Spain:Three different seas with different characteristics (Atlantic

Ocean, Cantabric Sea, Mediterranean Sea)Very deep at short distance from the coast.

The opportunity

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The Offshore Platform for RDI wind power (floating)

Objective: Technological leadership in 2016

Installation with capacities for R&D, pilot projects, trials and demonstration projects

At the same time: 1st worldwide operational installation to supply power from offshore floating wind turbines to a city (Las Palmas, Canary Islands)

The project

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The difficultiesMany Regions involved and interested

Several RDI centres and Universities interested and located in different parts of the territory, national and regional.

Many actors involved. Multiple demand for projects and support from public and private sector.

In this sector territorial aspects are fundamental. Legal authorities and competence is divided between administrations. (environment is regional, sea protection and coasts are national,...)

The installation of wind turbines have a social impact that should be politically address, requiring the collaboration of regional and national governments.

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The coordination & cooperation roleThe project has come to a reality after a coordination process based on smart specialisation allowing:

The coordination of several administrations in different territories Several RDI centres and Universities interested and located in different parts of the territory, national and regional.

Many actors involved. Multiple demand for projects and support from public and private sector. Key issues:

Regional Involvement through the network and complementarities of actions in different territories.Heavy firms involvement form the beginning.Sharing funding

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The coordination & cooperation roleThe project has come to a reality after a coordination process based on smart specialisation allowing:

The coordination of several administrations in different territories Several RDI centres and Universities interested and located in different parts of the territory, national and regional.

Many actors involved. Multiple demand for projects and support from public and private sector. Key issues:

Regional Involvement through the network and complementarities of actions in different territories.Heavy firms involvement form the beginning.Sharing funding

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PLOCAN

Marine & shipbuilding platforms

Sea Platform with combined capacities

Cantabria BIG Tank

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…, thank you for your attention