Smart Specialisation in Romania, the Growing Importance of the Regional Dimension

Petra Szávics

doi:10.32976/stratfuz.2020.5

Authors

Petra Szávics Babes-Bolyai University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32976/stratfuz.2020.5

Keywords:

smart specialisation, Cohesion Policy, less developed regions, regional development, innovation policy

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to present how the importance of the Romanian regional smart specialisation strategies grew during the 2014-2020 programming period. Relevant milestones connected to the implementation of the Regional Operational Programme are presented, relying on the analyses of secondary documents. The process is interpreted based on the existing literature in order to additionally identify some bottlenecks faced by less developed regions in such processes. In the case of Romania the regional dimension gained importance mid period of the financial exercise, triggered by the need to fully meet the ex-ante conditionality applicable under Cohesion Policy. The atypical situation presented sheds light on aspects linked to lack of capacities, lack of coordination between national and regional levels and different degrees of experience at the level of regions. However, capacity gained by organisations responsible at the regional level can be capitalised on in the preparation for the 2021-2027 programming period.

Author Biography

Petra Szávics, Babes-Bolyai University

Doctoral student, Babes-Bolyai University

References

DRĂGOIU, C.I. (2016). Fields of Smart Specializations and the Romanian Research. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 6 (3). Retrieved from: http://ojs.spiruharet.ro/index.php/jedep/article/view/63176/pdf_1

EUROPEAN UNION (2017). Final Report. Economic Challenges of Lagging Regions. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Retrieved from: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/challenges_lagging/econ_challenges_lagging_en.pdf

EUROPEAN UNION (2012). Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specializations (RIS 3). Brussels: European Commission, DG Regio and Urban Policy.

FORAY, D. (2014). From smart specialisation to smart specialisation policy. European Journal of Innovation Management, 17 (4), 492 – 507. doi: 10.1108/EJIM-09-2014-0096

FORAY, D. (2015). Smart Specialisation. Opportunities and challenges for regional innovation policy. London: Routledge.

FORAY, D., David, P.A., Hall, B.H. (2009). Smart specialization. From academic idea to political instrument, the surprising career of a concept and the difficulties involved in its implementation. MTEI-Working Paper -001.Retrieved from: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/29ad/6773ef30f362d7d3937c483003d974bc91c5.pdf

GIANELLE, C., KYRIAKOU, C., COHEN, C., PRZEOR, M. (2016). Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies. A Handbook. Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union.

HEALY, A. (2016). Smart specialization in a centralized state: strengthening the regional contribution in North East Romania. European Planning Studies 24 (8), 1527-1543. doi: 10.1080/09654313.2016.1184233

IONESCU, C. (2015). Smart specialization in Romania. Specific objective of the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation 2014 – 2020. Conference paper. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292616205_SMART_SPECIALIZATION_IN_ROMANIA_Specific_objective_of_the_National_Strategy_for_Research_Development_and_Innovation_2014_-_2020

KOCZISZKY GY., BENEDEK J. (2019). Contributions to the impact assessment of network cooperation among social enterprises. Theory, Methodology, Practice: Club of Economics Miskolc, 15(2), 23-28.

LARREA, M., ESTENSORO, M., PERTOLDI, M. (2019). Multilevel governance for Smart Specialisation: basic pillars for its construction. Luxemburg: Publication Office of the European Union. doi: 10.2760/425579

MCCANN, P. (2015). The Regional and Urban Policy of the European Union. Cheltenham, UK, Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing.

MCCANN, P., ORTEGA-ARGILÉS, R. (2011).Smart Specialisation, Regional Growth and Applications to EU Cohesion Policy. Regional Studies, 49 (8), 1291-1302. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2013.799769

MCCANN, P., ORTEGA-ARGILÉS, R. (2016). Smart Specialisation: Insights from the EU Experience and Implications for Other Economies. Journal of Regional Research 36, 279 - 293.Retrieved from: https://ideas.repec.org/a/ris/invreg/0336.html

MRDPA – Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration (2016). Methodology for the elaboration of the Framework Document for Smart Specialisation. Retrieved from: http://www.adrse.ro/Documente/Planificare/DCR/Metodologie_realizarea_DCR.pdf

RANGA, M. (2018) Smart specialization as a strategy to develop early stage regional innovation systems. European Planning Studies, 26 (11), 2125-2146, doi: 10.1080/09654313.2018.1530149

RODRÍGUEZ-POSE, A., KETTERER, T. (2019). Institutional change and the development of lagging regions in Europe. Regional Studies, 24(5), 1-13.

SANDU, S. (2012). Smart specialization concept and the status of its implementation in Romania. Procedia Economics and Finance 3, 236 – 242. doi: 10.1016/S2212-5671(12)00146-3. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257744868_Smart_Specialization_Concept_and_the_Status_of_Its_Implementation_in_Romania

SZÁVICS, P., BENEDEK, J. (2020, forthcoming). Smart specialisation priorities in less developed regions. A critical evaluation. Accepted for publication in New Metropolitan Perspectives 2020 Conference Proceedings.

TOLIAS, Y. (2019). Position Paper on S3 Evaluation. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi:10.2760/520648.

TRIPPL, M., ZUKAUSKAITE, E., HEALY, A. (2019). Shaping smart specialization: the role of place-specific factors in advanced, intermediate and less-developed European regions. Regional Studies. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2019.1582763

TSIPOURI, L. J. (2018). Fostering innovation in less-developed and low institutional capacity regions: Challenges and opportunities. Paris: Background paper for an OECD/EC Workshop on 22 June 2018 within the workshop series “Broadening innovation policy: New insights for regions and cities”. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/cfe/regional-policy/Tsipouri(2018)FosteringInnovationInLessDevelopedRegions.pdf

List of documents and legal acts analysed

Decision of the Romanian Government no. 236/2016 regarding the establishment of the National Interministerial Committee for Competitiveness. First version: https://lege5.ro/Gratuit/geydinjsge3q/hotararea-nr-236-2016-privind-infiintarea-comitetului-interministerial-pentru-competitivitate, Modified version: http://economie.gov.ro/images/transparenta-decizionala/HG_Comitet_Interministerial_Competitivitate.pdf.

Decree of the Romanian Government no. 929 from 2014 regarding the approval of the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation 2014-2020, http://www.cdi2020.ro/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HOT%C4%82R%C3%82RE-nr-929-din-21-octombrie-2014-privind-aprobarea-Strategiei-na%C5%A3ionale-de-cercetare-dezvoltare-%C5%9Fi-inovare-2014-2020.pdf.

Law of the Romanian Parliament no. 315 from 2004 on regional development in Romania with its subsequent modifications until November 2004, http://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/53040.

Memorandum for the elaboration of the National Strategy and National Plan for the area Research-Development and Innovation 2014-2020, no. 5551 from June 26, 2012, http://avizier.upt.ro/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Memorandum-CDI.pdf.

Ordinance of the Romanian Government no. 62 from 1999 regarding the establishment of the Executive Unit for Financing Higher Education and Research-Development-Innovation, with its subsequent modifications until July 2010, https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/resource-86386?&wtok=&wtkps=XY7bDoIwDIbfZdcyt3Ka5R2IiU+wsAGTwwhzEDW+uwMvjF61+ft9bSWm+HQYI3FGkcJhwpCcJg2Pzib3kTXL5LplaK+y7lcf8azKRdtGymeQyY3nSMxWwwYObE9yJEpN4/lyjHMGAgRLxTaAwH6TA0+4iBkw8bHS3Sr/HB7e+QUByar3i6EbrPK9pnZuqNe1cZUydDF6pXK+mcr2pHi9AQ==&wchk=acc9d80ea27b287617625299c382abf517eea375.

Partnership Agreement of Romania for 2014-2020, 2014RO16M8PA001.1.2, https://www.fonduri-ue.ro/acord-parteneriat#varianta-%C3%AEn-englez%C4%83

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument, COM/2018/375 final - 2018/0196 (COD), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2018%3A375%3AFIN

Regional Operational Programme of Romania for 2014-2020, 2014RO16RFOP002, approved in June, 2015 and its amendments from March 2016, April 2017 and March 2018, http://inforegio.ro/ro/documente-strategice/por

Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320–469, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R1303