A group of European regional actors and experts on smart specialization draws attention to the fundamental risks posed by the proposed reform of cohesion policy funding for the period 2028-2034.
Europe is facing a key decision. The ongoing negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034 will determine whether the EU will embark on the path of strengthening its competitiveness through innovation and the knowledge economy. A group of European regional actors and experts, united in the NESS platform (Network of Expert for Smart Specialization), draws attention to the fundamental risks that the proposed reform poses – in particular for Smart Specialization (S3) and for instruments supporting interregional innovation.
The letter stresses that S3 is a proven tool that must not disappear. It draws attention to the risks that may affect the effectiveness of innovation in regions. It recommends:
- Maintain S3 as a mandatory strategic reference point within the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs).
- Recognise S3 as a framework for multi-level governance and investment coordination, not just as a spatial planning tool under cohesion policy.
- Maintain a clear path for inter-regional implementation and strengthen cooperation through instruments such as Regional Innovation Valleys and the I3 instrument.
- Introduce binding monitoring requirements for NRPPs.
- Ensure that simplification strengthens, not weakens, the effectiveness of innovation.
The letter states that the new cohesion policy instrument NRPP should allow for targeting investments in priorities with real economic potential, using the proven business opportunity discovery process (EDP) linking the quadruple helix of cooperation (research, businesses, public sector, civil society). It also mentions strengthening interregional projects and value chains in the EU and giving greater visibility to the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) or Regional Innovation Valleys instruments.
The fact that the proposed new approach makes S3 only a “recommended” element among many other strategies threatens the continuity of national and regional strategies and the very ability of the EU to build strong and interconnected innovation ecosystems.
The authors of the letter reject the false choice between competitiveness and cohesion. Europe can only be globally strong if it uses the potential of all its territories – cities, countryside, industrial regions and peripheral areas. S3 and interregional innovation are not tools of the past. They are a key prerequisite for European resilience, strategic autonomy and the development of strong European value chains.
You can read the original letter here:
