The global value chains and increased sophistication of production constitute a large challenge for regional development efforts. There is a need to learn and up-grade the level of policy intervention. The point of departure for this in the LARS project is that regional innovation systems are different but may learn from each other through transnational learning and exploiting the complementarities.

Project aims to increase the potential growth of the regions, represented by the project partners, by strengthening the development of smart specialization strategies and the functioning of the innovation system.

The project attempts to help the public sector in leading smart specialisation processes in their regions and to connect innovation networks across regions. Expected outcomes include solutions tackling the fragmentation of regional systems of innovation looking for entrepreneurial discoveries within such topics as blue growth, bio and circular economy, advanced production methods and technologies for energy efficiency.