Regionale innovatiestrategie Frankrijk: een bron van inspiratie voor andere regio's (en)

In 2007, with the agreement of the French Government, the European Commission invited each of France’s 26 regions to adopt a regional innovation strategy. The intention was to increase the effectiveness of European investment in research and development, innovation and business support under Cohesion Policy programmes.

France’s principal management authority (La délégation interministérielle à l’aménagement du territoire et à l’attractivité régionale — DATAR) has recently published an overview of those strategies that are currently being employed on the ground. These ‘diagnoses’ can act as a source of inspiration for other regions of Europe.

The European Commission is encouraging all regions to develop this type of ‘smart specialisation strategy’ under which a region identifies its comparative advantages and the areas in which it can demonstrate its excellence.

The Summary of French regions' regional innovation strategies (available in English and French (as ‘synthèse des stratégies régionales d'innovation des régions françaises’)).

More information on smart specialisation strategies