In recent years, smart specialisation strategies have been a widely used concept to support research and innovation, especially in EU countries. As the name suggests, the concept is oriented towards the “smart, intelligent” exploitation and development of a country’s or region’s potential, aiming to create long-term competitive advantages that are based on knowledge exploitation and innovation. The concept of smart specialisation needs to be perceived as a new approach to innovation policy, where – instead of overall support for research and innovation activities – state interventions focus on selected priority areas with a high potential for the development and application of new knowledge in economic activities. The strategy builds on the strengths of a country or region and its specific capacities and resources in terms of economics, innovation and research.
