1. Programme strategy: main challenges and policy responses Table 1
Policy objective or JTF specific objective
Specific objective or dedicated priority *
Justification (Summary)
1. A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity
RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies
Ireland’s new Smart Specialisation Strategy high level strategic goals include using Smart Specialisation to: improve research and innovation capacity in Ireland’s regions; encourage more regionally dispersed RD&I, strengthen the enterprise base, and identify emerging areas of opportunity; increase the regional uptake of new advanced technologies; drive the development of skills needed for enhancing innovation activity; and encourage the maximising of sectoral strengths through clustering and the scaling of Ireland’s existing areas of research excellence. CR2019 identifies key priority investment areas for ERDF support under PO1 to effectively deliver on 2021- 2027 Cohesion Policy. Investment is needed to enhance research and innovation capacities, strengthen innovation performance, prioritise smart specialisation areas, support clusters, and address regional differences in the research and development intensity. CR2020 states that relatively low levels of R&D investment are a continuing concern. The independent Needs Analysis for ERDF and ESF+ in Ireland 2020 identified the need for investments to address the scale of regional disparities, measures to support an increase in R&D expenditure, supports to increase collaboration between industry and the higher education sector and measures to promote Smart Regions. The Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) for the Eastern & Midland Region (2019) and the Southern Region (2020) each identify developing the regions’ research and innovation capacity as a key strategic outcome. Each RSES emphasizes the importance of Smart Specialisation to the development of the region’s research, innovation, enterprise and human capital levels and to address regional disparities. RSO1.1 will address the recommendations of the Country Reports, the independent Needs Analysis, the RSES policy objectives and the S3 high level strategic goals. Ireland’s new Smart Specialisation Strategy identifies leveraging and building on the analysis of Irish regions’ strengths and emerging areas of opportunity undertaken as part of the development of Ireland’s S3 and addressing gaps in existing regional innovation infrastructures and systems by supporting projects aligned with the nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs) as key to delivery on the S3 high level strategic goals of encouraging more regionally dispersed RD&I, strengthening the enterprise base and identifying emerging areas of opportunity.
1. A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity
RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments
CR2019 identifies key priority investment areas for ERDF support under PO1 to effectively deliver on 2021- 2027 Cohesion Policy. Investment is needed to enhance the competitiveness and growth of Irish-owned
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