Green transition and smart specialisation in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkan region is in an advanced stage of the Smart Specialisation design process, with several economies deeply involved in its implementation. The commitment of these economies to adopt an EU-style, transformational innovation policy reflects a dedication to evidence-based and bottom-up innovation policymaking. This approach aims to enhance regional competitiveness sustainably. The EU Green Deal and the associated Green Agenda for the Western Balkans represent templates for transformative change that should underpin innovation policies. Strong parallels between this green transition and Smart Specialisation emerge in shared elements such as sustainability, environmental priorities, societal challenges, and digitalisation. This study investigates regional research and innovation capacities for the green transition through the lens of Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkan region. It proposes policy actions to leverage these capacities within both national frameworks and collaborative initiatives.