“Due to size, resources and specialization in specific research and development (R&D) areas, the Baltic Sea Region countries do not fully exploit their competitive potential in international markets. To increase their competitiveness, it is necessary to foster transnational cooperation and strengthen smart specialization in the region”, at project “GoSmart BSR” meeting in February in Vilnius said Mantas Vilys, the CEO of the Lithuanian Innovation Centre.
Representatives of eight institutions from seven Baltic Sea region countries have met in Vilnius to establish common ground for their national or regional smart specialization strategies to encourage effective cross-border cooperation between business, research and development sectors and public institutions, thus contributing not only to the competitiveness of each country but also of all Baltic Sea Region.
Project “Strengthening smart specialisation by fostering transnational cooperation (GoSmart BSR)” is implemented with the support from the European Regional Development Fund Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020. From October 2017 to September 2020 project unites 8 partners from 7 countries, and it aims to increase capacity of innovation actors to apply smart specialisation approach.
