SmartEIZ Conference held in Zagreb

SmartEIZ Conference titled “Smart Specialization Strategies: Contemporary Challenges of its Design and Implementation” was held in Zagreb on 25th and 26th September, 2018. It was organized by The Institute of Economics, Zagreb SmartEIZ project team members.

Over the past period, the Smart Specialization Strategy has become a binding strategic document for all EU member states on the basis of which it is necessary to plan spending of EU funds from the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, which also includes programs that include research, development and innovation activities . For this reason, the implementation of this Strategy requires the coordinated action of all stakeholders involved in this process: state administration, business sector, civil society and the scientific community. The two-day conference was inaugurated by the Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat, State Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Education Tome Antičić and the Director of the Institute of Economics, Zagreb, Maruška Vizek.

ABOUT SMARTEIZ

The SmartEIZ project “Strengthening the scientific and research capacities of the Economic Institute, Zagreb as the foundation of Croatian socio-economic growth through the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy” is funded from the Horizon 2020 programme and conducted by researchers of the Institute of Economics, Zagreb, together with partners from the following Bocconi University Italy, UNU-MERIT from the Netherlands and University College London (UCL) from the UK. SmartEIZ is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts and with the Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment (HAMAG-BICRO), whose representatives are in the Project Steering Committee. Thanks to this kind of project organization, foreign partners provided insights into the latest trends and knowledge in the area of innovation policy, which is crucial for the implementation of the Smart Specialization Strategy.

PRESENTED WORKS

The conference presented works that represent the experience of implementing the Smart Specialization Strategy across Europe as well as research papers on innovation and industrial policy. A round table was held at the end of the conference on “How to implement the Smart Specialization Strategy?”. Participants with international experience shared their experience with the implementation of the Strategy on the examples of their countries, which is relevant for the effective implementation of this Strategy in the Republic of Croatia.

All papers presented at the conference can be found below:

Day 1:

Bart Verspagen, Is job automation risk traded in the European Union?

Micheline Goedhuys, Eleonora Nillesen, Marina Tkalec; Economic Consequence Of War: Evidence From Firm Level Panel Data

Alex Surpatean, Ad Notten, Bulat Sanditov and Jojo Jacob; Geographical Divergence In ICT Research

Roberto Mavilia, Zoran Aralica; International Collaboration in Inventive Activities: Technology And Regional Specificities In The Balkan Countries

Nordine Es Sadki; The Impact Of University Quality, Competition And The Regional Environment On The Knowledge Transfer Outcomes Of Universities

Damir Anić, Nicolleta Corrocher, Andrea Morrison, Zoran Aralica; The Development Of Clusters Of Competitiveness In Croatia: A Survey-Based Analysis

Stjepan Srhoj, Bruno Škrinjarić, Sonja Radas; Bidding Against The Odds? The Impact Evaluation Of Grants For Young Micro And Small Firms During The Recession

Marijana Sumpor, Ljiljana Blažević, Irena Đokić; Boosting Vukovar’s Economy Through Local And Sectoral Production Systems

Arnault Morrison; The Role Of The Knowledge Gatekeeper For Path Development In The Knowledge Periphery: The Case Of Ruta N In Medellin, Colombia

Kirill Osaulenko; From Failure to Success. Relevance of Corporate Governance for International New Ventures. Case Study: Kaspersky Laboratory