Smart specialisation and the entrepreneurial discovery in Pernambuco: innovation actors’ perspectives in the clothing and automotive-IT

Abstract

Smart specialisation strategies (RIS3) have become a new paradigm for regional innovation policies in the European Union. Its differentiating features operate on a dual dialectic between a top-down planned process and the bottom-up deep stakeholder involvement to prioritize investment through entrepreneurial discovery processes. This article is based on the recent experience of adapting RIS3 principles to Brazil in the State of Pernambuco. The analysis is based in two selected sectors - clothing/textiles and activities in the intersection of information technologies with the automotive sector - to test the RIS3 methodology, identify needs and uses of innovation services and generate potential ‘transformative activities’ for the development of these sectors. The article mobilizes results from a survey and participatory sessions to evidence similarities and differences between both sectors and identify potential clues of ideas-partnerships for the promotion of innovative dynamics in this Brazilian State.

Keywords:
Smart Specialisation Strategy; Entrepreneurial Discovery Process; Pernambuco; Clothing/Textiles; Automotive-IT