Community workshop, Brussels (2018)
Addressing regional innovation opportunities for the low-carbon economy
Exploratory policy multi-actor workshop, Ljubljana (2018)
Policy mixes fostering regional capacity in low carbon economy in peripheral European regions
This study provides evidence on the application of a regional policy model through a portfolio of actions to support entrepreneurship and development of professional competences. For doing so, we analyse the capacity building process delivered through the EIT RIS Climate-KIC programme in the context of peripheral European regions. In the context of the EIT RIS those are defined as the ones showing innovation performance below the EU average according to the European Innovation Scoreboard.
Emphasis is put on the alignment of multiple stakeholders with existing regional innovation plans such as Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) by which policy mixes emerge with the purpose of reinforcing synergies and complementarities between EU, national, regional innovation initiatives while developing and activating large-scale “green” projects. The study addresses then the performance of the peripheral regions to improve the knowledge triangle integration. We argue that a variety of mechanisms for public-private collaboration is required to effectively support technological as well as practice-base innovation.
The case of European peripheral regions is a concrete example of the application of policy mixes by considering a variety of regional settings in terms of industrial history and governance configurations. The empirical study is based on the comparative analysis of the results of a portfolio of activities as well complementary interviews to regional policy officers. Results show that the successful alignment between regional priorities and low-carbon economy projects can be explained by how clear is the understanding of horizontal relations between stakeholders to define the long term direction of regional innovation.
Results has been already presented in the following conferences
- RSA Annual Conference 2017 “the Great Regional Awakening: New Directions“, 4th-7thJune 2017 ,Dublin, Ireland
- 12th CONFERENCE REGIONAL INNOVATION POLICIES (RIP 2017), 26-27 October 2017, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- European Week of Region and Cities – Master Class 2017
Research Team: Cristian Matti, Julia Panny, Irene Vivas Lalinde and Balnca Juan Agulló
Innovation platforms enabling cross-regional collaboration in low-carbon economy
The interdependent challenges of climate change need innovation in systems of practice and provision, not single innovation in products and processes. In this context, cities face the challenge of dealing with climate risks and impacts while moving to more sustainable, zero-carbon and resilient pathways. This is a significant opportunity for a new, sustainable market to combine existing knowledge and economies of scale within urban environments to produce new systemic solutions. However, there are considerable differences in progress between the leading cities (mainly in Northern/Western Europe) and the ones lagging behind. Intra-EU disparity claims for the existence of platforms that follow a systemic approach instead of “picking the winner”. The structures that allow for coordinating various actors by combining individual goals and capacities with shared purposes, norms and expectations refer to innovation platforms.
This study addresses the role of innovation platforms as catalysers of existing (or new) innovation systems in sustainable urban transitions to explore market opportunities. Empirically, emphasis is put on analysing the underlying factors of geographical structural differences and the patterns of relations between knowledge spaces and governance configurations. To do so, we analyse the portfolio of projects and activities of the EIT Climate-KIC. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of innovation platforms as a mechanism to accelerate innovation in the urban environment that can enhance collaboration to achieve more equally distributed progress across all of Europe.
The results of this study are based on the activities implemented in the EIT RIS programme covering peripheral EU regions.
- Journal publication HERE
- Webinar format: Conference presentation UN/WASD International Conference on Public-private partnership for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10-13 April 2018, Geneva
Research project team: Cristian Matti, Irene Vivas Lalinde, Julia Panny and Balnca Juan Agulló
Policy lessons on multi-level governance. The EU RIS model in Chilean regions
This study provides evidence of the policy learning process related to the translation and adaptation of a regional policy model to a new context while implementing a mayor process of transference of competences. Emphasis is put in the process of translation and adaptation of an external regional policy model (the EU RIS scheme) by looking at the different understandings of regional system of innovation through the analysis of regional assessments and proposals for regional innovation strategies designed by Chilean regions. By doing so, this study seeks to identify the critical elements related to capacity building at different level regarding the development of new institutional frameworks and coordination mechanism by considering the agency issues and different regional settings.
The case of Chilean regions is a concrete example from the few experience on adapting European policies in other context. It is also a relevant case regarding the re-configuring of multilevel governance system to support innovation in an emergent and globalized economy. Empirical study is base in document review and content analysis techniques as well as complementary interviews to policy officers. Results shows an increasing autonomy of the regional governments while main policy instruments and resources still keep under central coordination.
Reverse engineering for multilevel governance. Lessons learnt from the application of EU RIS model in Chilean regions
11th Regional Innovation Policies Conference 2016.
Cardiff University in Wales on the 3 and 4 November 2016
Catalina Terra – Universidad de Chile & Cristian Matti – Utrecht University & Climate KIC
Visual toolbox for system innovation
The Visual toolbox for system innovation” is a booklet-format collection of ready-to-implement tools to structure and manage the challenges and exploit opportunities of sustainability innovations and transitions.
The tools are presented in a simple and visual approach to support practitioners’ everyday work on climate change, transition and system innovation.
| De Vicente Lopez, Javier and Matti, Cristian (2016). Visual toolbox for system innovation. A resource book for practitioners to map, analyse and facilitate sustainability transitions. Transition Hub Series. EIT Climate KIC, Brussels 2016. ISBN 978-2-9601874-1-0 |
Download the Visual toolbox
The launch event “Opening the development agenda,” the STEPS center – Sustainable Alternatives for Latin America, was held on 5 and 6 November in Buenos Aires. STEPS Latin America is part of a network of universities based China, USA, Kenya, India, the UK and Sweden. STEPS Latin America seeks to renew and open innovation agenda and sustainability of the region, based on the idea that there are different paths to development. During the two-day panel on Open Science, Innovation inclusive, horizontal innovations for sustainability and natural resources and development which will have important guests were made internationally. My participation in this event was to design and facilitation of participatory workshops with the aim of thinking policies to promote open knowledge production and think a new research agenda on innovation and sustainable development for the region.
The workshop Policies to open the generation of knowledge was based in participatory techniques aimed to allow jointly identification of a number of items such as tools, methodologies and priorities related to S & T policy. Brainstorming techniques and World Cafe are used to enhance the diversity of perspectives and facilitate the exchange of ideas between different actors. The outcome of this workshop will be digitized and shared with participants to encourage collaboration in different areas.
The workshop Research agenda for sustainable development was based in participatory techniques for making maps on areas of knowledge and research priorities through a prospective approach. By visualizing a future scenario, the exercise seeks to help participants to relate different elements at different levels and over time in order to facilitate change processes at the system level. The outcome of this workshop will be digitized and shared with participants to encourage collaboration in different areas.
The event was part of the new line of collaboration between Transition Hub – Climate KIC and the STEPs center. Further actions are related with the co-development of learning materials and exploring research opportunities in the area of resilient and smart agricultural systems
See full agenda of the event here & summary of event in STEP website
Visioning for the biomass sector. Fostering local development through participatory processes
Javier de Vicente López, Cristian Matti and José Jiménez Pérez
This document summaries the results obtained as a result of the participatory process that is part of the “Foundations for a Provincial Strategy Biomass” in the province of Castellon.
These actions are ultimately aimed at laying the foundations for sustainable biomass strategy, which included the set of actors in the territory and the entire value chain that the use of biomass genera.La idea behind all the participatory process It is incorporating the different viewpoints, knowledge and experience of all actors in the work of treating biomass as “an element to assess forest biomass” capable of “generating economic wealth, clean energy and employment, especially in the interior villages helping the development of these rural areas. ”
Download report here: Report Biomass Castellon – Participatory methods 2015 (in Spanish)
Reflexive governance and action research for local renewable energy policy in Spain
Innovation in process of policy design by reflexive governance and action research. The case of renewable energy policy in Pobla de Vallbona
The presentation aims to analyse the interaction experience of a multidisciplinary team in the formulation process of the renewable energy local normative. A set of different elements on the formulation process and the content of the normative will be analysed by exploring the concept of reflexive governance. For doing so, focus will be put in the search of agreement and consensus by considering different interpretation of innovation polices as public procurement for R&D and green procurement as well as more general concepts as governance, participation and decision making mechanisms. Finally key issues of action research approach will be described in term of the the role of local environments on the generation, exchange and knowledge transfer as key drivers for the design and implementation of environmental regulation.

The presentation is based in the participation of the authors in the project Mediterranean renewables energy ENERMED. The project seeks to bring coherence to Mediterranean regional policies on renewable energy for innovation and competitiveness. Our skills will contribute to understanding.
More info:

