2014年-世界发展银行全球_Review_of_National_and_Regional_Research_and_Innovation_Strategies_for_Smart_Specialization_in_Poland_88页_2mb

Summary of the Review of National and Regional RIS3 Strategies in Poland

Core Content

This report provides an analysis of the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3) in Poland, focusing on their alignment with the European Commission's (EC) ex ante conditionality and their potential to drive socio-economic transformation. It evaluates the national, macro-regional, and regional levels of RIS3 implementation, highlighting the current state of these strategies and identifying key challenges and recommendations for improvement.

Main Viewpoints

• Poland's EU Fund Utilization: Poland has been highly effective in absorbing EU funds, particularly during the 2007–2014 financial perspective, with over €67.3 billion received. The country has used these funds to support growth and address socio-economic challenges, avoiding recession during the financial crisis.
• Future EU Funding: Poland is expected to receive another €72.9 billion in structural funds for the 2014–2020 period, with around €10 billion allocated to national and regional innovation programs. The goal is to ensure that these funds are used efficiently to support long-term socio-economic transformation.
• Smart Specialization (RIS3): RIS3 is a strategic framework aimed at aligning research and innovation with regional strengths and competitive advantages. It is a tool to enhance the impact of innovation policies on economic growth and competitiveness.
• Challenges in RIS3 Implementation: Despite progress, the current RIS3 frameworks in Poland lack coherence, have limited evidence of moving beyond "business as usual", and suffer from unclear responsibilities and insufficient stakeholder engagement.

Key Information

1. RIS3 Overview

• Definition: RIS3 is an integrated, place-based strategy that focuses on key priorities, builds on existing strengths, supports both technological and practice-based innovation, involves stakeholders, and is evidence-based with monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Purpose: To guide the concentration of resources on knowledge-based development, particularly in ICT, and to ensure that public investments contribute to sustainable socio-economic transformation.

2. Ex Ante Conditionality

• The EC requires that RIS3 strategies meet certain formal conditions to access EU structural funds.
• These include:
  • The existence of a national or regional RIS3 strategy aligned with the National Reform Program (NRefP).
  • A multi-annual plan for budgeting and prioritization of investments linked to EU priorities.
  • A framework outlining available budgetary resources for R&D and innovation.
  • A monitoring and review system.

3. Assessment of RIS3 Compliance

• National Level: Partly fulfilled, with some gaps in the multi-annual plan and monitoring systems.
• Macro-Regional Level: Not fulfilled, particularly in terms of budgetary frameworks and strategic coherence.
• Regional Level: Partly fulfilled, but with notable weaknesses in the monitoring and review system and the multi-annual plan.

4. Smart Specializations

• The concept of smart specialization emphasizes endogenous strengths, such as clusters, R&D expertise, and qualified labor.
• It encourages a dynamic, market-oriented approach to innovation and development.
• The selection of smart specializations should be based on evidence and a business planning model.

5. Key Challenges Identified

• Incoherence: RIS3 strategies across different levels (national, macro-regional, regional) are not fully aligned.
• Lack of Evidence: There is insufficient evidence that the new RIS3 framework goes beyond previous approaches.
• Unclear Responsibilities: The division of responsibilities between national and regional levels is not clearly defined.
• Limited Communication: There is a lack of trust and open communication between national and regional governments.
• Institutional Capacity: Institutions at all levels lack the capacity to effectively implement and monitor RIS3 strategies.
• Leadership: Leadership needs to be strengthened, particularly at the national level, to guide the formulation and implementation of RIS3s.

6. Recommendations

• Operationalization: Make RIS3 strategies more operational, understandable, and flexible.
• Evidence-Based Selection: Strengthen the rationale for selecting smart specializations using robust evidence and a new business planning model.
• Capacity Building: Enhance internal capacity among key stakeholders.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Introduce a rigorous M&E system to measure the net effects of public interventions.
• Strategic Coherence: Ensure that regional RIS3, regional development strategy, and regional operational program are complementary.
• System Reform: Reform the innovation system to reduce fragmentation and duplication of efforts.
• Ownership and Leadership: Promote stronger regional ownership and leadership in the RIS3 process.
• Sustainability: Plan for the innovation system to remain self-sustainable even after EU funding ceases post-2020.

Conclusion

The report concludes that while RIS3 strategies in Poland are already quite developed, they require further refinement to meet the EC's ex ante conditionality and to effectively support socio-economic transformation. The focus should be on improving coherence, evidence-based decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity across all levels of governance. These improvements are essential to ensure that the RIS3 framework contributes to long-term, sustainable growth and convergence with Western European income levels.