The Strategic Project “Plan of Smart Regional Specialization for the promotion of competitiveness, research and innovation” with acronym “SMART SPECIALIZATION” is funded by the European Territorial Cooperation Programme “Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013”.
The Programme aims at a stronger and more sustainable economic and social developmental borderline with a Strategic Goal “to promote the cross-border area by ensuring regional cohesion and enhancing competitiveness”.
Under the Strategic call Projects are oriented towards the confrontation of strategically common, complex and innovative regional development issues.
The eligible area of the Programme consists of the Region of Central Macedonia and the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace in Greece and the South-West Planning Region and South-Central Planning Region in Bulgaria.
In the strategy framework for Europe 2020, Smart Specialization is in the center of EU interests and represents a key element for regional development. The Strategic Project will assist the Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization, in order to enhance the Cross Border Interregional cooperation. The project aims at providing a preview of European Regional Innovation trends for the next programming period by presenting the concept of Smart Specialization and its potential impact on regional development trajectories.