Smart Specialisation is an innovation policy concept that aims to boost regional enterprise innovation, contributing to growth and prosperity by helping and enabling regions to focus on their strengths.
Smart Specialisation advocates a place-based approach to focusing innovation investment on a few, carefully chosen priorities, where the impact can be greatest. The approach involves assessing economic, higher education and other innovation assets to identify and select a limited number of priority areas for knowledge-based investments, focusing on a region’s strengths and comparative advantages.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently leading on the development of an updated Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for Ireland, covering the period to 2027. It will incorporate regional level consultation including through revised Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs), which will give a local and regional insight to innovation priorities. Ireland’s approach to Smart Specialisation will be reflected in Ireland’s new research and innovation strategy, the development of which is being led by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
A public consultation on the development of the new Smart Specialisation Strategy is currently open and available here: Consultation on the National Smart Specialisation Strategy
More information on Smart Specialisation and its role in Europe’s cohesion policy is available on the Smart Specialisation Platform.