Across US the most intriguing interpretation of ‘Smart Strategies’ and the emerging model that embodies the idea of recreating an innovative urban ecosystem is well represented by the concept of ‘Innovation District’, a ‘geographic area where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators’.
This contribution aims to highlight the crucial challenges faced by the regions of the European Union (EU) when applying the EU’s ‘Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation’ (RIS3) policy to implement its ‘Cohesion Policy’ and ‘Europe 2020’ agendas. The author maintains that policymakers, planners, entrepreneurs, local communities and the other stakeholders involved in the future of urban regions should adopt a fresh view of the current innovation strategies at the forefront of the European debate, informed in particular by lessons from US experiences.
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