Debate on the Smart Specialisation Strategy for Catalonia (RIS3CAT)
Businesses and organisations from the design sector meet to discuss “RIS3CAT and the role of design in the competitive strategy for Catalonia”
On the 22nd of July this year, the Barcelona Design Centre (BCD) brought together companies and organisations from the design sector in order to present and discuss the Smart Specialisation Strategy for Catalonia (RIS3CAT), the regional action plan for economic transformation for the 2014-2020 period, and to analyse the role played by design in the fostering of innovation.
The meeting was held in the auditorium of the Disseny Hub Barcelona and served as a springboard for discussion on how to make the best of the opportunities offered by the European programme in terms of strategic projects in research, innovation and competitiveness. Among others invitees, the event benefitted from the participation of Pere Torres, Secretary-General for Business and Employment of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Josep Miquel Piqué, CEO at the Economic Development Office of the Barcelona City Council, and Isabel Roig, BCD General Director and President of BEDA, the Bureau of European Design Associations.
The Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) of the European Commission aims at optimising the use of structural funds by identifying the particular characteristics and assets of each country or region and focussing economic growth and investment efforts according to their specific strengths and competitive advantages.
The Catalan Smart Specialisation Strategy, RIS3CAT, considers industrial tradition to be one of the three key vectors by which Catalonia can successfully address the significant social and economic challenges of the present day, with innovation, technology and design as its principal competitive spearheads. To this effect the 2014-2020 Industry Policy is based on the seven priority sectors identified by RIS3CAT, which include design- and experience-related industries.