Strategic Research and Innovation Partnerships (SRIP)
About this good practice
The resources productivity in Slovenia is below EU average. This is why the OP for the implementation of European Cohesion Policy recognizes that “Resource and energy efficiency are crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of the economy and reducing environmental pressures. Priority axes 1 and 3 will support actions to improve the material and energy efficiency of enterprises and their ability to exploit the potentials which exist within the national and foreign markets in the field of green products and services”. This strategic direction has provided a general framework when preparing Smart Specialisation Strategy (SSS). This GP is a platform for focusing the development investments in areas where Slovenia has an important mass of knowledge and skills, where there is innovation potential for setting Slovenia within global markets.
SSS is a strategy aiming at
- strengthening the competitiveness of the economy by enhancing its innovation capacity;
- diversifying existing industries and service activities boost the growth of new and fast-growing industries and enterprises.
To this end, we set up SRIPs, which serve as a platform for companies to forge new projects that can be financed through different financial instruments. The main role of SRIP circular economy is to raise awareness about this concept, support and equip the companies with necessary knowledge, help them drafting the project documentation and provide an open space for networking.
Expert opinion
Circular economy has the potential to re-dynamise the cooperation between businesses, academia, citizens, and public authorities can play a key role in this process. The practice is a positive example of a platform initiated at national level to addresses the knowledge gaps of businesses related to the transition to circular economy and insufficient cooperation between them in this area. This is a common problem faced by many countries especially by such, which are at an early stage of the shift to circular economy. Another important aspect is that the SRIP is a central institutional form at the levels covered by the Smart Specialisation Strategy and is linked with the strategic policy documents at national level. The overall approach, methodology, the focus on investments with high innovation potential can serve as an inspiration for other Managing Authorities how to launch similar initiatives and stimulate the collaboration between companies, research and innovation institutions.
Resources needed
SRIP is a central institutional form at the levels covered by the Smart Specialisation Strategy. The total budget for the activities in the period 2017 – 2022 is approximately 10 mio EUR.
Evidence of success
They organized various events to facilitate the knowledge transfer and assure the dissemination, thus bringing companies, research and innovation institutions together to enable further application to tenders. They offered necessary support for preparing the project documentation which helped involved institutions get funded. They managed to bring good practices from other countries and enabled experience to facilitate the knowledge about the transition to circular economy to different SRIPs.
Potential for learning or transfer
This GP can be easily transferred to other regions, since the S4 is a document developed in every region. This GP is related to the implementation of some strategic Slovenian documents:
1. Slovenia’s Development Strategy 2006-2013 established an “innovative knowledge society”, identifying three key field-specific strategies:
- Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia 2011-2020 (RISS).
- Slovenian Industry Policy (SIP).
- Digital Agenda.
- Other specific and relevant strategies.
2. S4 itself is a policy instrument which is innovative as it supports cooperation of actors which until now have not formed partnership.
3. The innovation is also that one of the partnerships supported is related to the transition to the CE. It will support innovations which help Slovenian companies in the transition process towards the CE models. Companies, along with the research institutions, will have to make innovation in either of fields in order to make an impact.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Ministry of Economic Development and Technology