Smart Arenas
Published on 29 May 2020
Sweden
Norra Mellansverige
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
A smart arena is a meeting place for collaboration between different competences in society, i.e. people from areas such as research, business, the public sector, academia and civil society.
As part of the regional innovation strategy for smart specialization in Region Gävleborg in northern mid Sweden, five smart arenas have been developed around five “areas of strengths” that have been identified as having particularly excellent conditions. Each arena is organized as to elevate and further develop existing regional strengths and is coordinated by a process manager.
The smart arenas are based on the observation of an uneven access to services and support in the region. It was necessary to strengthen collaboration and interaction between the actors in the innovation system, but also to strengthen access to innovation resources at local level.
The smart arenas involve innovation system actors and promote them to develop common models and tools to drive and support innovation processes from idea to products/services in the market linked to the different “areas of strength. The conjoint function of the arenas is to share lessons and experiences, inspire each other to new ways of thinking and perspectives or finding new forms of collaboration across organizational boundaries.
Smart Arenas:
-Smart sustainable cities and communities
-Digital services and processes
-Sustainable and inclusive working life
-Materials technology and sustainable production
-Bio economy
As part of the regional innovation strategy for smart specialization in Region Gävleborg in northern mid Sweden, five smart arenas have been developed around five “areas of strengths” that have been identified as having particularly excellent conditions. Each arena is organized as to elevate and further develop existing regional strengths and is coordinated by a process manager.
The smart arenas are based on the observation of an uneven access to services and support in the region. It was necessary to strengthen collaboration and interaction between the actors in the innovation system, but also to strengthen access to innovation resources at local level.
The smart arenas involve innovation system actors and promote them to develop common models and tools to drive and support innovation processes from idea to products/services in the market linked to the different “areas of strength. The conjoint function of the arenas is to share lessons and experiences, inspire each other to new ways of thinking and perspectives or finding new forms of collaboration across organizational boundaries.
Smart Arenas:
-Smart sustainable cities and communities
-Digital services and processes
-Sustainable and inclusive working life
-Materials technology and sustainable production
-Bio economy
Expert opinion
Smart arenas is an initiative to promote collaboration among quadruple helix stakeholders on smart specialisation strategies (S3) in Region Gävleborg, Sweden. Five smart arenas have been developed around ‘five strengths’ to enhance regional innovation and economic transformation. The objective of each smart arena is to develop new models and accelerate the innovation process—from idea to product/process—on each topic.
Some insights from the good practice:
-The good practice highlights the importance to have a coordinator for each smart arena to ensure that quadruple helix stakeholders meet frequently to share and diffuse knowledge. As a result, resources must be allocated for coordination.
-The smart arenas facilitate coordination and collaboration among quadruple helix stakeholders. Moreover, they raise awareness on the region’s smart specialisation strategy (S3). Regions that aim to foster collaboration among quadruple helix stakeholders could learn from the experience of the Region Gävleborg and its smart arenas.
-Smart arenas could not only be created around ‘regional strengths’ but also around ‘regional weaknesses’.
Some insights from the good practice:
-The good practice highlights the importance to have a coordinator for each smart arena to ensure that quadruple helix stakeholders meet frequently to share and diffuse knowledge. As a result, resources must be allocated for coordination.
-The smart arenas facilitate coordination and collaboration among quadruple helix stakeholders. Moreover, they raise awareness on the region’s smart specialisation strategy (S3). Regions that aim to foster collaboration among quadruple helix stakeholders could learn from the experience of the Region Gävleborg and its smart arenas.
-Smart arenas could not only be created around ‘regional strengths’ but also around ‘regional weaknesses’.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
One full-time project coordinator from the Region. One full-time process leader per Smart Arena. Resources within the Smart Arenas as to enable coordinated actions.
Evidence of success
- Five arenas are established and operating as platforms for smart specialization strategies in the region.
- Increased awareness about the content of Smart Specialization Strategies in the regional innovation system.
- Increased levels of coordinated activities across actors in the innovation system.
- Steps taken towards a coordinated approach to performance evaluations of different types of actors in the innovation system.
- Increased awareness about the content of Smart Specialization Strategies in the regional innovation system.
- Increased levels of coordinated activities across actors in the innovation system.
- Steps taken towards a coordinated approach to performance evaluations of different types of actors in the innovation system.
Potential for learning or transfer
- How to create regional awareness about regional smart specialization strategies.
- How to efficiently coordinate regional development in relation to smart specialization strategies.
- How to change established structures for regional development as to mobilize resources towards the effectuation of smart specialization strategies.
- How to allow flexibility in the regional innovation system and at the same time having common structure that guides the individual arenas.
- How to transfer knowledge between actors within the innovation support system.
- How to strengthen collaboration and interaction between the actors in the regional innovation system.
- How to efficiently coordinate regional development in relation to smart specialization strategies.
- How to change established structures for regional development as to mobilize resources towards the effectuation of smart specialization strategies.
- How to allow flexibility in the regional innovation system and at the same time having common structure that guides the individual arenas.
- How to transfer knowledge between actors within the innovation support system.
- How to strengthen collaboration and interaction between the actors in the regional innovation system.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Region Gävleborg
Sweden
Norra Mellansverige
Contact
SME Development