The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy launched during the Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Conference the S3 Community of Practice. The conference took place online on the 30 March and it was the first in a series of events aimed at S3 stakeholders from various EU Member States. The S3 Community of Practice is an essential source of support for S3 implementation under the EU Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027. The event brought together S3 practitioners, policymakers, experts, and other key stakeholders to discuss the role of S3 in driving local economic development and EU priorities.
The conference featured various speakers, including experts from the European Commission, managing authorities, governmental bodies, coordinators of granted projects under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, S3 experts, the S3 CoP Secretariat, and the OECD. Attendees learned about the support provided by the new S3 CoP, including working groups, expert groups, targeted support activities, events, and online tools. They also participated in a policy debate on win-win opportunities for local economic development and EU priorities.
Complementary initiatives that foster interregional cooperation and innovation investments, such as the I3 Instrument and the European Innovation Ecosystems, were also discussed at the conference. Attendees had the opportunity to interact virtually and share their thoughts and experiences on the implementation of S3 CoP in their member states and region. The conference provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the development of S3 CoP and gain knowledge alongside other stakeholders. The next event is scheduled for November 2023.
