Academy of Smart Specialisation

Establishing smart specialisation strategies has become vital in making the best use of limited resources; but it has become obvious that it is not an easy task to manage these innovative approaches and to establish the necessary linkages between actors with different competences and skills. Smart specialisation strategies are established throughout Europe, but there is often a lack of concrete actions for linking research and innovation with a user-driven need and with strong collaborations with industry, public sector and civil society. The Academy for Smart Specialisation is the research and innovation agreement between Region Värmland and Karlstad University for the period 2016–20. Through the agreement and the creation of an organisation implementing the agreement, an operational tool has been developed; a tool for the transformation and renewal of the private and public sectors in Värmland as well as for the development of research and education at Karlstad University. The concept of ”Smart specialisation” involves finding strong areas in the region with the capacity to evolve into internationally competitive industries.
Karlstad University and Region Värmland will run the Academy jointly, creating a meeting-place for researchers, companies, financiers and entrepreneurs. By linking research, innovation and education, the Academy will prepare Karlstad University students for employment to drive industrial development in the prioritised areas in Värmland.