Smart specialisation strategies: towards an outward-looking approach

Author(s)
Alessio Giustolisi, Maximilian Benner, Michaela Trippl
Abstract

In recent years, regional innovation policies across Europe have relied on the smart specialisation approach to support new path development. However, its focus on endogenous knowledge flows remains a major weakness of the approach. This article argues that smart specialisation has to adopt an outward-looking approach that combines knowledge flows external and internal to the region. Based on four stylised types of regions, the article proposes generic strategies that can be pursued through smart specialisation. In terms of its policy implications, the article argues that policymakers should develop their regions’ external connectedness strategically to leverage complementarities in global knowledge flows for new path development.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geography and Regional Research
Journal
European Planning Studies
Volume
31
Pages
738-757
No. of pages
20
ISSN
0965-4313
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2022.2068950
Publication date
05-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
507026 Economic geography
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Geography, Planning and Development
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/38900428-eafb-4598-b7c4-4df4722ffe7f