Central Denmark Region Implementation of smart specialisation

Transcription

1 Central Denmark Region Implementation of smart specialisation Lars Vildbrad, deputy director, Regional Development Brussels, October Denmark and its regions North Denmark Region 0,6 m Central Denmark Region 1,2 m Region of Southern Denmark 1,2 m Capital Region of Denmark 1,6 m Region Sjælland 0,8 m 2 1

2 Central Denmark Region - Facts Population: 1,253,000 inhabitants Largest city: Aarhus 252,000 inhabitants (Aarhus Municipality 315,000 inhabitants) GDP pr. capita: 39,700 EUR Aarhus University is ranked in the top 100 by several influential rankings Representative offices in Brussels, Shanghai, St. Petersburg and Budapest 3 Division of responsibility between the national, regional and local level National Ministry of Business and Growth and Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education Regions - through regional growth fora are responsible for the regional business development Municipalities can carry out - and finance - business service activities for entrepreneurs and businesses (municipalities are represented in the regional growth forum) Regional and local (municipal) strategies mutually reinforce each other 4 2

3 National-regional coordination The prioritized sectors in Central Denmark all play an important role at the national level as well Need for coordination across the national and regional levels Annual partnership agreements between the regional growth forum and the national government play an important role as frame for collaboration with specific ministries Prioritised areas in the 2012 agreement: A coherent and efficient public innovation and business development system Business development in rural and fringe areas Regional positions of strength, in particular health and welfare technology, the transmission towards a greener economy, and foodstuffs. A coherent system of education focused on the needs of the business community. 5 Vision of Central Denmark s business development strategy Central Denmark Region is a globally competitive region among the best in Europe This implies a region with: A high level of productivity and gross value added Innovative and creative firms and employees 6 3

4 Combining a sector focus with horizontal priorities Regional growth Energy & environment Foodstuffs Welfare technology Innovation and business development Digitalization Entrepreneurship Education and skills development 7 Sectoral priorities in Central Denmark Energy and environment High growth rates; strong regional specialization; a strong international position (particularly in wind energy) Foodstuffs Mature industry; accounts for a relatively high proportion on industrial employment and exports in the region; has to find new ways to generate further innovation and growth. Welfare technology Emerging area; rapidly increasing demand; strong regional basis for exploiting new business opportunities (public research; private companies in e.g. the ict industry) 8 4

5 Working with prioritized sectors Focussing on the specific strengths, potentials and challenges of each sector Different recipes for the different sectors Collaborating closely with stakeholders Expert groups for Energy and Environment and Foodstuffs the mandates of the expert groups are under revision Emphasising the prioritized sectors in partnership agreements with the national government 9 Energy and environment Strong position in the international market for energy and environment solutions particularly wind energy But position is challenged as still more countries start to focus on the business opportunities in a growing world market Regional initiatives focus on Supporting the development of leading edge technologies Supporting the development of new business models, products and concepts through collaboration between public and private organisations Collaboration with national level Partnership agreement focuses on how national government, industry and the regional growth fora jointly can strengthen the Danish position in the global wind turbine industry given the current restructuring of the global value chain Evidence base Analysis of transformations of the global supply chain and the implications for the Danish firms (in particular suppliers) is the basis for the further business development effort

6 Foodstuffs Important export industry: Foodstuffs accounts for 15 percent of Central Denmark s exports But strong global competition accentuates the need for a higher degree of innovation in Central Denmark s food businesses Regional initiatives focus on Supporting innovation through collaboration btwn businesses, knowledge institutions and customers worldwide Supporting innovation in products and services Raising skill levels in the industry Collaboration with national level Partnership agreement focuses on getting a Food KIC ; strengthening the regional food culture as a basis for innovation ( Madkulturen ); the need for competence development; and marketing Danish high-quality food products and gastronomy abroad. Evidence base So far mapping of competence needs and innovation has played the major role in evidence gathering. A more systematic evidence gathering approach under development Welfare technology/innovation Rapidly growing international market for welfare investments; rising demands for efficiency in the public sector; strong research base in the region Central Denmark Region is a major customer in this market 93 percent of regional budget bill. EUR in is dedicated to healthcare (somatic and psychiatry) Regional initiatives focus on A targeted innovation effort aimed at using the challenges in the welfare/healthcare system as a driver of innovation (and future growth and welfare) Public-private innovation collaboration Collaboration with national level Partnership agreement focuses on increased collaboration on exploiting the business potential in the health and welfare area; a national-regional partnership on healthcare and hospital related innovation (13 mill. EUR); and establishing a marketing consortia for raising international awareness on Denmark s strengths and competencies related to healthcare and welfare solutions. Evidence base Initially most evidence on the demand and public research side, but knowledge on business side is gradually evolving. More systematic evidence gathering approach under development

7 Available instruments and resources Growth forum s most important instrument for promoting smart specialisation is its business development strategy The strategy is the launch pad for business development programmes that are run by operators (business development agents) on behalf of the region/growth forum Programmes e.g. offer general business counselling, capital coaching, support for entrepreneurship, network building, support for university-business-relations, competence development etc. The region as an advanced customer Annual healthcare budget in Central Denmark is 3 bill. EUR Resources Budget: 27 mill. EUR p.a. (1/3) + co-financing (2/3) Stakeholders Operators 13 Towards the next level of smart specialisation Increased focus on the international/global dimensions International positioning of prioritised areas, more cross-border collaborations etc. More systematic analyses (stronger evidence base) Continually develop stakeholderinvolvement including re-defining the role of the expert groups related to the prioritised sectors

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