Linking the "recovery and resilience plan" and smart specialisation: The Italian case

This study aims at analysing possible synergies between the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Smart Specialisation Strategies for 2021- 2027 of Italian regions. Although Smart Specialisation Strategies are not explicitly mentioned in the Plan, we found that sixteen initiatives have a strong link with S3s priority areas, and thirty-one initiatives can be classified as having a medium link. For the remaining initiatives the potential links are weak. Much can be done to increase coherence between S3 and recovery projects, even a posteriori, by considering how the two planning processes complement one another. Obviously, the effective achievement of synergies between the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the regional Smart Specialisation Strategies will depend on many factors; in particular, a good policy mix and the involvement of relevant regional actors within the governance of the Plan.