Identification of Regional Smart Specialisations on the Basis of Aggregate Measures – A Case of the Dolnośląskie Voivodeship

Research background: Strengthening endogenous potentials, enhancing competitive advantage based on research and innovation remains an important component of regional development policy. Over the years this task has been carried out through e.g. the identification and support focused on smart specialisations.Purpose: The purpose of the assessment was to identify smart specialisations in the Dolnośląskie voivodeship and evaluate their competitiveness against the background of other voivodeships.Research methodology: The set of diagnostic indicators as well as the dynamics and location measures calculated on their basis, and also linear ordering methods using a weights system (Synthetic Measure of Smart Specialisations – SMSS) were used to identify regional smart specialisations. A statistical analysis was conducted on the basis of data at the level of PKD divisions (Polish Statistical Classification of Economic Activities; NACE is the EU equivalent). The identification was carried out taking into account the period 2012–2017 and focused primarily on 2017.Results: As a result, 4 RSSs were identified, of which the first two are the mining of non-ferrous metal ores and the production of motor vehicles.Novelty: The study proposes, based on the example of the Dolnośląskie voivodeship, the possibility of using linear ordering methods in determining the region’s smart specialisations (RSS), i.e. unique regional qualities and assets, which may constitute its competitive advantage, supported by appropriate research and development facilities and essential for the development of modern and innovative sectors of the economy.

Local Economic Development in Transition Economies

There are significant inequalities in development both within and over the borders of countries, in addition, urban and rural areas show significant differences in the level of development. The reason for the occurrence of spatial discrepancies is that the economic and social processes are always restructured in space and time and such processes are even accelerated by the globalization. In order to get precise and realistic picture about territorial processes, it is worth to learn the spatial processes that have already happened as well as their impacts on the spatial structure, since these may enable the regions to break out from the disadvantaged situation. In such a multivariable system, the development strategies need to be built on the endogenous potentials and own strengths of the regions. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the importance of local values and local conditions in the sustainable rural development, thus emphasizing the importance of localization in long-term progress. The chapter puts emphasis on the characteristics and features of transition countries.

Cultural Rural Development in the Czech Republic (Case Study of the Liberec Region)

The contribution aims at determining the endogenous potential for a proposal for sustainability and potential development of tourist destinations located in the Czech border areas - Liberec region - that lag behind in rural development. Based on the results of the empirical research, according to optimal scaling the ASEB-C analysis is applied suggesting the LAC (Limits of Acceptable Change) planning system will improve sustainability and competitiveness of all LAU 1 (in the Liberec region) and of the specific touristic destinations. The potential of development in the Czech border areas is in the stagnation phase, due to the fear and (dis)embedded identity in some less developed border areas. It should be evident that even in the Czech rural border areas the potential of “growth of endogenous potentials seems feasible” in combination with an endogenous and exogenous model of regional rural development.

Local Economic Development in Transition Economies

There are significant inequalities in development both within and over the borders of countries, in addition, urban and rural areas show significant differences in the level of development. The reason for the occurrence of spatial discrepancies is that the economic and social processes are always restructured in space and time and such processes are even accelerated by the globalization. In order to get precise and realistic picture about territorial processes, it is worth to learn the spatial processes that have already happened as well as their impacts on the spatial structure, since these may enable the regions to break out from the disadvantaged situation. In such a multivariable system, the development strategies need to be built on the endogenous potentials and own strengths of the regions. The aim of this chapter is to highlight the importance of local values and local conditions in the sustainable rural development, thus emphasizing the importance of localization in long-term progress. The chapter puts emphasis on the characteristics and features of transition countries.

Emerging sectors in rural development

This paper focuses on the innovativeness of rural economy and in particular on the way rural entrepreneurs in endogenous and exogenous sectors make use of their rural environment. building upon the sustainable innovation framework, key strategies for rural development are formulated. the described data refers to the rural innova region (10 rural eu regions). The results show that rural innovation is essentially a process of valorising endogenous potentials by connecting them with exogenous assets.