Smart Specialisation in Moderately Innovative Regions – A Qualitative Study of Poland and Lithuania
Smart Specialisation in Moderately Innovative Regions – A Qualitative Study of Poland and Lithuania

Summary/Abstract: Smart specialisation (S3) strategies had to be prepared by the European Union (EU) member states in compliance with ex-ante conditionality to receive EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). The approach of S3 has been novel and especially challenging for the regions regarded as moderate innovators1. This study is a part of a larger research project and it aims to explore how novel innovation policy-making requirements affect existing policy-making traditions in such regions and how S3 has been adopted in the context of the local institutional environment. Furthermore, the study seeks to explain the rationale behind the main challenges for the S3. The cases of Poland and Lithuania are analysed using a qualitative method, based on interviews and analysis of existing documents. Structuration theory and neo-institutional theory perspectives are applied to interpret the data. At the first sight, approaches and challenges in both countries seem alike; however, when zoomed closer, the differences emerge in terms of complexity of the processes, implementation, inteligentna specjalizacjaand evaluation of S3

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