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NORTE RIS3 methodological approach for monitoring regional smart specialisation strategies (RIS3)
Published on 31 January 2019
Portugal
Norte
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The setting-up of a monitoring mechanism represents one of the most challenging steps in the RIS3 process. The RIS3 are a distinct strategy by the fact that thematic and sectoral bets in the priority domains allow, with the same mix of public policies, to achieve better results, expressed in the respective indicators, and to accelerate the process of structural change in the regional economy. The monitoring system must reflect the strategic nature and therefore be comprehensive.
NORTE RIS3 monitoring system approach assumed that the bottom-up and top-down logical approaches are complementary. The aim is to monitor whether resources are allocated in the planned way, whether the achievements are the ones planned and are focused on the most relevant priority domains, giving rise to the expected results and to the structural change of the economy at the desired pace.
The monitoring system approach starts with the input and output indicators that are associated with the monitoring of the policy mix, moving to the result indicators, including those that measure the bets in the different priority domains, allowing the monitoring of the strategic objectives. Finally, the context indicators allow to verify the overall level of achievement of RIS3 and its vision. The indicators associated to the priority domains are the nodal point of the whole monitoring model. It is the information obtained at this level that allows, in every moment, to improve the fine tuning of public policies.
NORTE RIS3 monitoring system approach assumed that the bottom-up and top-down logical approaches are complementary. The aim is to monitor whether resources are allocated in the planned way, whether the achievements are the ones planned and are focused on the most relevant priority domains, giving rise to the expected results and to the structural change of the economy at the desired pace.
The monitoring system approach starts with the input and output indicators that are associated with the monitoring of the policy mix, moving to the result indicators, including those that measure the bets in the different priority domains, allowing the monitoring of the strategic objectives. Finally, the context indicators allow to verify the overall level of achievement of RIS3 and its vision. The indicators associated to the priority domains are the nodal point of the whole monitoring model. It is the information obtained at this level that allows, in every moment, to improve the fine tuning of public policies.
Expert opinion
The good practice provides some important insights on how to set-up an effective RIS3 monitoring system. Monitoring RIS3 is not only an “ex-ante” conditionalities but also an essential tool to assess the implementation of the RIS3, to support decision making on proposals for action lines, to revise or maintain priority areas, and to prepare for future evaluation. Moreover, a well-designed monitoring system can act as an early-warning system to signal critical aspects in the S3 implementation.
Some insights from the good practice:
-RIS3 monitoring system must be comprehensive.
-RIS3 monitoring system approach must include bottom-up and top-down logical approaches.
-Regional public administration staff must have adequate skills and capabilities in RIS3 monitoring.
-Data must be available and appropriately identified and selected.
-Each indicator must correspond to a certain level of the hierarchy of objectives. In the case of Norte RIS3, the dimension “Vision and Regional Innovation Performance” corresponds to the “Context Indicators” such as the Regional Innovation Scoreboard; the “RIS3 Strategic and Transversal Objectives” corresponds to the “Result Indicators” and “Indicators by Priority Domains”; the “Specific Objectives of Policy Mix” corresponds to the “Input Indicators” and “Output Indicators”.
Some insights from the good practice:
-RIS3 monitoring system must be comprehensive.
-RIS3 monitoring system approach must include bottom-up and top-down logical approaches.
-Regional public administration staff must have adequate skills and capabilities in RIS3 monitoring.
-Data must be available and appropriately identified and selected.
-Each indicator must correspond to a certain level of the hierarchy of objectives. In the case of Norte RIS3, the dimension “Vision and Regional Innovation Performance” corresponds to the “Context Indicators” such as the Regional Innovation Scoreboard; the “RIS3 Strategic and Transversal Objectives” corresponds to the “Result Indicators” and “Indicators by Priority Domains”; the “Specific Objectives of Policy Mix” corresponds to the “Input Indicators” and “Output Indicators”.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The main resources needed are: (i) adequate skills and capabilities within the regional administration, namely skilled human resources in the design and monitoring of R&I Policies; (ii) data availability, namely official statistics and administrative data from the Cohesion Policy and R&I Programmes.
Evidence of success
The S3 Platform/JRC from the EC congratulated for the document produced about the NORTE RIS3 methodological approach for monitoring systems of RIS3 and published it in the S3 Knowledge Repository (Link in "Further information").
Potential for learning or transfer
The development of a monitoring system is an integral part of smart specialisation strategies, since it is essential to assess if the strategy is being implemented as planned. At the same time, the setting-up of a monitoring mechanism represents one of the most challenging steps in the RIS3 process. This practice presents a methodological approach to structure a RIS3 monitoring system that could serve as inspiration for other RIS3 strategies to learn from. This practice as also a high potential for transfer to other regions, offering an approach of how to structure the RIS3 monitoring framework and the system of indicators, starting with the input, output, priority domain and result indicators that are aligned with the monitoring indicators of cohesion policy's operational programmes established in documents of the European Commission and ending with the context indicators that are linked with the main variables included in the Regional Innovation Scoreboard also published by the EC.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Commission for Regional Development and Coordination of Norte
Portugal
Norte
Contact
Senior Economist