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On 2 December 2025, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission hosted a high-level conference in Brussels focused on Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in the EU Enlargement Process. The event, held at the Charlemagne Building, brought together policymakers, regional leaders and experts to discuss how Smart Specialisation can support innovation, competitiveness and long-term economic transformation in countries advancing towards EU accession.
The programme opened with keynote speeches by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and JRC Director-General Bernard Magenhann, followed by a keynote address from Mikel Landabaso, Director for Fair and Sustainable Economy at the JRC. Panels and discussions examined the strategic importance of Smart Specialisation approaches, shared regional experiences from the Western Balkans and the Black Sea region, and explored how these strategies can strengthen innovation ecosystems, territorial development and cooperation across enlargement countries. Speakers also highlighted national achievements, challenges and lessons learned in designing and implementing S3.
Throughout the event, Smart Specialisation was presented as a place-based innovation policy tool that helps regions leverage local strengths, enhance competitiveness and foster sustainable growth, an approach increasingly embedded in EU accession frameworks and integrated into policy dialogues for candidate and neighbourhood countries. The conference concluded with reflections on the ongoing role of S3 in driving socio-economic change and supporting research and innovation collaboration across the broader EU Enlargement region.