S3 - Smart Specialization Strategy

Smart specialization strategy (hereinafter S3) derives from a European initiative aimed at identifying investment priorities in research, development and innovation able to complete the resources and strengthen the productive capacities of a territory, to build sustainable growth paths in the medium and long term. Initially introduced in the 2014-2020 programming of the cohesion policy and then updated and reconfirmed in 2021-2027, the S3 strategies are declined at regional level and are characterized by interventions for economic and social development guided by innovation and managed through a new multilevel and multistakeholder governance model.

The identification of priorities is entrusted to a process of cooperation between the public and private sectors, which involves entrepreneurs capable of combining scientific, technological and engineering knowledge with market knowledge.

The EU Regulation 1303/2013 (CPR) laying down the provisions on the European Structural and Investment Funds for 2014-2020 entrusts the S3 strategy as a prerequisite for the use of available EU resources to strengthen research, technological development and innovation (Thematic Objective 1). With regard to the 2021-2027 period, EU Regulation 2021/1060 (CPR) which contains the common provisions of the 2021-2027 european funds, foresees as an enabling condition for access to ERDF and ESF+ funds in the field of research, innovation and skills that the “good governance of the national or regional smart specialization strategy” is ensured, identifying 7 fulfillment criteria for the enabling condition.

In Italy, the regional S3 (RIS3) that are 21 and the national one thus represent the strategic framework for the design and implementation of interventions in research, technological development and innovation policies, which in the 2021-2027 period also saw the approval of the STEP Regulation.

Operational Note on Project Monitoring of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), Nota RGS-IGRUE  n. 235093, 31 October 2018