Good practices for smart specialisation in energy : methodological insights and identification of valuable knowledge

The EU Member States and regions are currently implementing the priorities of their Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation and their investments in sustainable energy from European Structural and Investment Funds under Thematic Objectives 4 and 7. This working paper is part of the policy support provided by the Smart Specialisation Platform on Energy (S3PEnergy) to EU regions and Member States in the implementation phase of their Smart Specialisation Strategies. In order to guide their work, the S3PEnergy has elaborated an inductive approach to identify good examples on smart specialisation and energy priorities implementation and on the use of Cohesion Policy funds for sustainable energy. The paper is organised in three main sections. The first describes a method for the identification of good practices, including the definition of a good practice in the frame of smart specialisation and energy, and the criteria used to identify good examples (under three categories: necessary, relevant and optional criteria). The second section elaborates a pilot exercise to put in practice this methodology and includes an initial catalogue of 11 demonstration cases of good practices. The third section draws the main lessons learnt from this pilot exercise whereas the conclusion provides insights to practitioners of smart specialisation.