The TTR-ELAt cross-border innovation policy mix
The TTR-ELAt is quite advanced in developing a mix of policies to take advantage of the innovation assets throughout the cross-border area using “variable geometry” cross-border partnerships. The area hosts a number of good practice examples of successful instruments covering many aspects of a cross-border innovation policy mix. Variable geometry is a pragmatic approach to pursue the objectives of the TTR-ELAt, as seeking agreement across all constituent regions to implement multilaterally a fully joint policy mix co-funded by all would be too cumbersome.
(TTR-ELAt in bold)
Table 9.6. Snapshot of governance characteristics: The TTR-ELAt
|
Characteristic |
Specification |
Comments |
|
National political capitals |
Yes, each side Yes, at least one None |
The region is multipolar and includes secondary cities in their national/regional context. |
|
Longevity of public co-operation |
>20 years 10-20 years <10 years |
The Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) was founded in the 1970s. The TTR-ELAt builds on this long history of cross-border co-operation in the area, with the TTR and the ELAt each beginning in 2004 and joining forces in 2009. |
|
Innovation policy competencies |
Balanced, strong Balanced, weak Unbalanced |
Dutch provinces have few legal competences but are very active in innovation policy; Belgian regions have full competence in this matter (but not the Belgian provinces) and the same holds for German Lander. |
|
Political commitment |
Balanced, strong Balanced, weak Unbalanced |
Commitment towards this cross-border innovation co-operation is the strongest at Dutch national and provincial level. Other regions remain engaged but to a lesser extent, although North Rhine-Westphalia could be re-engaged in the collaboration. The political commitment of the Province of Liege to the TTR-ELAt needs to be clarified, as well as that of the 7th region (Dusseldorf area) that is not yet active. |
|
Institutionalisation and legitimacy |
Present, strong Present, weak Not present |
There is no institutionalisation of the TTR-ELAt, and the partial but not total mapping with the EMR represents a missed opportunity to reinforce cross-border area growth. |
|
Actors in governance |
Public sector University/research actors Firms Mix of actors (triple helix) |
The formal governance structures are entirely public sector driven. However, increasingly collaboration in policy making and projects takes on a more triple helix form, including multinationals and other firms, research centres and universities, and intermediaries. |
|
Funding sources |
Mainly public Mixed public/private Mainly private |
Many projects in the area are bilateral between two countries. Multilateral TTR-ELAt projects are funded mainly by the European Territorial Co-operation (Interreg) programme with co-funding from other regional and sub-regional authorities. |
The most interesting initiatives are bottom-up programmes combining funding sources on the various sides of the border; however, regional and national programmes limit cross-border participation. The Holst Centre, a joint research infrastructure co-funded by the Dutch and Flemish authorities, is one flagship initiative among a subset of cross-border regions. The TTR-ELAt has developed a strategy of supporting business development through the Top Technology Clusters (TTC) and the Cross-border Cluster Stimulation (GCS) projects, involving joint funding from all constituent regions and making strategic use of European Territorial Co-operation funding through the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. A large set of experiments through joint R&D projects of a temporary nature, mostly with European Territorial Co-operation funding, serve to reinforce these cross-border linkages for innovation. In addition, other co-operation takes place without public intervention. Missing in the policy mix are efforts to open existing regional and national programmes to partners from part or the whole TTR-ELAt area (mainstreaming the cross-border element). Mutual exchanges on policies occur on an ad hoc project basis, but not yet in a systematic way at strategic policy-making level.
Table 9.7. Cross-border policy instruments: The TTR-ELAt
|
Instruments |
Presence in the TTR ELAt |
|
Strategy and policy development |
|
|
Benchmarking and policy learning |
|
|
Analytical exercise (like mapping of clusters or value chains, technology foresight exercises) |
- BAK Basel Economics reports (on innovation performance and areas of technological expertise in international comparison) |
|
Joint branding of the cross-border area |
- ELAt Investment Forums |
|
R&D support |
|
|
Joint public research programmes |
|
|
Joint research infrastructure, shared access to research facilities |
|
|
Cross-border private R&D funding programmes (generic and thematic) |
- GCS (Cross-border Cluster Stimulation) project: grants for cross-border R&D projects involving SMEs |
|
Technology transfer and innovation support |
|
|
Cross-border innovation advisory services (vouchers, intermediaries) |
|
|
Advisory to spin-off and knowledge-intensive start-ups |
- AC2 start-up competition, EUBAN |
|
Other technology transfer centres and extension programmes |
- Leuven-Inc |
|
S&T parks and innovation networks |
|
|
Cross-border science, technology parks and incubators |
|
|
Cluster or network initiatives |
|
|
Human capital investment |
|
|
Scholarships/student exchanges |
|
|
Joint university or other higher education programmes |
|
|
Talent attraction, retention or mobility schemes and support initiatives (like cross-border placement or information for cross-border commuters) |
- Info points for border commuters |
|
Other |
|
|
Financing (venture capital funds or angel networks) |
- Euregional business Angels Network |
|
Joint public procurement |
|
