Abstract

Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) are essential partners to regional administration in the implementation of Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation, as well as partners to businesses and research actors. First, many RTOs have a policy role and capabilities to identify regionally relevant technological opportunities as a key input into the EDP. Second, RTOs as increasingly international organisations can collect information on international R&I markets and facilitate the access to global knowledge for regional firms through their networks and research collaborations. Third, RTOs often have a central role in the development of particular cluster groupings through their specialisation around core technologies, and as such can be a central player in the development of such clusters.