Smart Specialisation Strategies foster knowledge-based growth in EU regions and countries. They are crucial to achieving a smarter, sustainable and inclusive Europe.
Research and innovation are key for sustainable and smart economic transformation. They are central to the EU’s main objectives such as the green and digital transitions.
This is why, in 2010, the European Commission called on national and regional governments to develop Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) for research and innovation (R&I) to encourage all European regions to discover their competitive advantage. With Smart Specialisation, research and innovation are mainstreamed -for the first time as tools for regional development.
More than decade later, the concept has taken hold strongly in EU regional policy. Participation, prioritisation and localisation, the key pillars of S3, have been fully absorbed in regional development practice.
Smart specialisation has made a real difference in the way European regions are designing their innovation strategies, reinforcing cooperation at all levels.
Geographical focus:
All Western BalkansNews:
- Joint Research Centre (JRC) Conference Highlights the Role of Smart Specialisation in the EU Enlargement Process
- Montenegro Builds System Based on Clearly Defined Smart Specialisation Priorities
- Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategy in North Macedonia
- An interview with Viktor Nedović and Dijana Štrbac on Smart Specialisation and Macro-Regional Cooperation
- Montenegro Launches Preparation of new Smart Specialisation Strategy 2026–2031
- EU and Albania hold 3rd Horizon Europe Joint Research & Innovation Committee Meeting
- Albania and Smart Specialisation
- SpinIT Project Boosts Innovation and Smart Specialisation Across the Danube Region
- Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027 and the Action Plan 2024-2025
- Smart Specialisation Strategy in Kosovo and the role of Riinvest Insitute
Events:
- Fostering New Avenues of Innovation and Growth
- Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EUSAIR and the Western Balkans
- Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Conference 2025
- POLICY ANSWERS Webinar: Smart Specialisation in EU Enlargement Countries (co-organised with EUSDR PA7)
Calls:
Documents:
- E-learning Course: S3 in EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region
- Smart Specialisation Strategy of Montenegro 2019-2024
- Skills for Smart Specialisation in Albania: Sustainable and Diversified Tourism
- Key Findings of the Study: Unveiling Research Synergies in the Danube Region, Exploring Potential Research Collaboration in the Context of S3
- Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU 2025
- SMART Innovation for Next Generations
- S3 Conference 2025 Final Report
- Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2027
- Addressing key challenges by Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans
- Interview with Mikel Landabaso, Director at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, on S3 in the Western Balkans
- Assessing Research and Policy Support Needs for Innovation in the South East Europe – Key Findings Based on SmartEIZ Questionnaire Report
- S3 Community of Practice Information Hub
- The Role of Universities in Smart Specialisation Strategies
- Interview with Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation of Montenegro, on the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3)
- Regional Potential for ICT Collaboration in the Context of Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans
- Guidelines for the Stakeholder Dialogue in the Process of Designing and Implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies in the EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Region
- Qualitative Analysis of Economic, Innovation and Scientific Potential in North Macedonia
- The Identification of Smart Specialisation Priority Domains in Serbia
- The Identification of Smart Specialisation Priority Domains in Albania
- The Identification of Priority Domains in Kosovo, a Mapping Exercise
- Smart Regions: A Magazine on Smart Specialisation Strategy in Serbia
- Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans: Potential for Knowledge-based Economic Cooperation (2024)
- Smart Specialisation Strategies in Croatia: Experiences and the Way Forward Conference Recommendations
- Draft of the Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) in Albania
Links:
Initiatives:
- Transformative Innovation for Climate Change Adaptation in the Danube Region (TiCCA4DANU)
- Launching of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) e-platform
