Norte

Presentation of the Region

Norte is one of the largest and most industrialized regions in the European Union. Being an export-led economy, Norte’s economic structure encompasses traditional industries that still represent a significant share on value added and employment, and emerging medium-high- and high-tech sectors, supported by the significant accumulation of human capital and scientific capabilities.

In the last decade, Norte has registered a remarkable progress in terms of innovation, according to the RIS 2019, being the 100th most innovative region in Europe and classified as «Strong Innovator-» for the first time. The potential of Norte has a profound connection with the industrial nature and with the entrepreneurial profile of a region undergoing a catching-up process that benefits from the incorporation of technologies through diffusion and develops product and process innovations.

Taking in account this export and industrial vocation of Norte, the smart specialization paradigm provides an opportunity to lever the region’s resources, to derive synergies and combine competitive advantages at European level, in order to increase its economic integration in interregional value chains. Cooperation is crucial to exploit the commonalities and complementarities between European regions, in order to improve the innovation output and economic growth.

RIS3 Priorities

NORTE S3 is founded on exploring the human capital and the potential for crossing knowledge bases and productive capabilities within a related variety domain, where diversity creates an ecosystem that mutually reinforces competitive advantages. NORTE S3 domains for the new programming period 2021-2027 are the following:
– Creativity, Fashion and Habitats
– Industrialization and Advanced Manufacturing Systems
– Agri-environmental Systems and Food
– Sustainable Mobility and Energy Transition
– Life Sciences and Health
– Territorial Assets and Tourism Services
– Sea Resources and Economy
– Technologies, State, Economy and Society

NORTE S3 has a crucial role in supporting R&D, innovation and economic competitiveness. The S3 and its governance model constitute conditions for prioritising R&I investments under the European funds of cohesion policy. This strategy has also an important role in supporting the region’s internationalisation in order to access business and knowledge networks, increase R&D capacity, reach new markets, expand business opportunities and integrate global value chains.

NORTE S3 governance comprises CCDRN, as the body responsible for the regional S3 management, and the Regional Innovation Council and the Regional S3 Thematic Platforms that are responsible for promoting the active participation of regional actors in the monitoring and evaluation of the S3 and in the strategic decision-making process, involving representatives of the quadruple helix.