impact at the level of all companies in the economy. The development is slowed by the
economy ï are highly competitive at global level ï ensure regional economy†sustainable effect Target at t1 moment (2020:
ï The innovative enterprises, business networks and regional clusters †generate innovation and disseminate it at the level of all the companies in the sector
Key values that will animate regional stakeholders in delivering their missions ï partnership ï creativity
networks of the future, internet services, software and visualization, media network and 3d internet, integrated systems design, personal health systems, ITC for energy efficience and
the innovation services will be used, as well as the problem of innovation competences especially at the level of the future generations †the ones that will benefit from the present
investments in innovation and will be reswponsible for their ma nagement in the future Horizontal Priority 2 †Support for the inovative companies from the Northeast
ï development of †curricula partnerships†between educators and enterprises in the fields with regional smart specialization potential, in the view to actualize the education offer
in enterprises and coupling them with training coursed (for example †how its made...†or new technologies presentations
/internships i innovative enterprises from priority sectors (through bourses or other facilities Project ideea: Paied internships in the ITC sector
o Support of pupils, students and masterands to participate in competitions of ideasand innovative projects organized at national and international level (through financial
enterprises in the field are complaining of being difficult to find employable persons †among other reasons this is also caused by the deficitar image of the sector.
Support for the inovtive enterprises in Northeast Region Measure 2. 1: Assisatnce servicesfor transfroming inovative ideas in business ideas
o Support for the development of services offered bu business support networks and custers to their members
In this environment, excellence and an entrepreneurial spirit mobilize a critical mass of actors. †•2
opportunity •Regional leadership at the frontier of science through breakthroughs in strategic fields •Regional level †not a distinct level
Ecological Services, Fossil Energy, Gas and Electricity, Maritime Oil Extraction Machinery and Equipment Intelligent Agriculture, Automation, Mechatronics
IT&C Networks of the future, internet and services, software and visualization, networked media and 3d internet, flexible organic and large area electronics, embedded system
Energy and Environment Pollution, management and monitoring, environmental engineering, ecology and environmental science, network technologies, renewable energy and biofuels
1) Stimulating business investment in research;( (2) Bridging business and public research;( (3) Low technology transfer rates
and a weak culture of entrepreneurship •Main opportunities for future regional development 1) Large-scale infrastructures (e g.,
, ELI -NP) and associated hubs;(2) Danube Institute/Initiatives;(3) Competence poles e g.,, Cluj, Magurele
Romanian economy through innovation -To enhance the Romanian contribution to the progress of frontier knowledge
value (in the economy, public services public decision-making etc. to the results of research; Romania†s broader strategic
ï Online consultation with RDI experts and stakeholders †proposals of promising R&i programs for each candidate field;
ï Large-scale online consultation of experts and stakeholders on the 90 R&i fiches †quantitative evaluation, backed up by pro/con arguments;
Environment Nanotech Naval Optics Patrimony Health Security Socioeconomic Space Textiles Agro-Food ICT Intelligent sys
Environment Security Space Materials Biotechnologies Transport Socioeconomic 13 Panels 90 Micro-visions 29 domains +Exploratory
investment for reaching critical mass 1 2 3 90 24 billion Euro Smart specialisations identified in the foresight exercise include
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT •Increasing end-use energy efficiency •Optimizing the use of conventional and nonconventional water resources
stakeholders and political decision version July(?2014 Smart specialization fields •Bioeconomy •ICT •Energy & Environment
•Eco-technologies Public interest priorities •Health •Security & Space •National heritage & identity, cohesion and cross-cultural linkages
•Energy, Environment & Climate changes •Eco-nano-technologies & Advanced Materials Public interest priorities •Health
Environment; Health; Security; Intelligent Systems; Socioeconomics Space medicine Science; Transport ICT Rationale: ICT prioritized for information security &
Energy & Environment Energy, Environment & Climate change Rationale: Environment focus on Climate Change the Danubius Center will be operational by 2018
Eco-technologies Eco-nano-technologies & Advanced Materials Rationale: specific request of Renault Romania Group, the Romanian Academy,
National institutes †given the opportunities in the automotive industry, textiles, and KET development subject to further debate
enterprises or research institutes or universities •Global Value Chain analysis The panels working on candidate smart
Romania-France framework for research collaboration (joint research in Physics, Environment Chemistry, Mathematics. Also, ERA.
-driven entrepreneurship (e g.,, through fiscal and financial mechanisms, support for firm -initiated RDI projects. The response of the
innovative products and services; pre -commercial public procurement •Involvement of entrepreneurial actors First online consultation
Environment Materials ICT Energy Biotechnology Agrofood •Governance of RDI strategy •National level •The smart specialization-aware RDI strategy design process was outsourced by
Economy •The design of the strategy involved a number of collaborative procedures, from work in relatively large and diverse panels to participative online consultations
Venture capital as%of GDP 0. 033 0. 06 0. 09 Spill over in the private sector
SMES introducing innovative products and services(%)13.7 2011 16 20 Revenue from licences and patents from abroad as%of GDP 0. 13
Environment; Health; Security Intelligent Systems; Socioeconomics; Space medicine Science; Transport -Prioritization and version Dec. 2013 Public debate
The Romanian economy, ranked right in the middle of the latest Global Competitiveness Report is driven efficiency and displays low business sophistication.
-innovation sectors and is separated from the average national economy in Europe by a considerable competitiveness gap.
-owned companies, play a dominant role in the economy The structure of the labor force diverges substantially from the European trends.
-governmental, not-for-profit institutions have few means to follow through on their initiatives The RDI system
the economic crisis, the level of funding plummeted to around 0. 3%of the GDP. Business
investment As a result of the strategy, public funding for R&d grew substantially and consistently for several years.
However, funds were slashed soon after the onset of the economic crisis. Around a third of the projected RDI budget was disbursed actually.
number of experts and stakeholders, including representatives of the business community. A commitment to the project was secured from a broad group of key actors †decision-makers in
-an investment model for the RDI ecosystem (including a Plan for the implementation of the Strategy and an Operational program for RDI
In this environment, excellence and an entrepreneurial spirit mobilize a critical mass of actors; companies become key actors of
gradually by groups of experts and stakeholders, on the basis of available evidence, with input
In the second stage, 13 panels of 15-25 experts and stakeholders worked from this input as well
as a large selection of data on the economic value added, on scientific collaborations and results, on societal needs, global trends etc. in the shortlisted smart specialization fields.
•the potential for adding value (in the economy, public services, public decision -making etc. to the results of research
the sustainability of investments in RDI 8 Data on all publicly-funded competitive Romanian RDI projects over the last 7-8 years (over 6, 000;
Knowledge-based economy, European union, R&d, SMES JEL CLASSIFICATION: L29, O11, O30, O52 1. INTRODUCTION As we are facing the transition to the knowledge-based economy,
the role of R&d and innovation is constantly increasing. Because the challenges we are facing have a systemic nature, the instability
emphasizes that the â€oeknowledge-based economy is characterized by the transformation of knowledge in raw material, capital, products, essential production factor for the economy, and by
economic processes in which the generation, selling, acquisition, learning, stocking, developing splitting and protection of the knowledge become predominant and decisive for long term profit
gaining and sustainability assurance†(Nicolescu, 2011 When assessing the R&d potential of a country, there are a lot of elements to be taken into account
R&d investments. Regarding this second issue, although counterintuitive, there is empirical evidence that the â€oefunded firms are significantly more R&d active than non-funded firms†(Aerts, 2008
profit-based performance measure, is more conducive to firm innovation; and (3) CEO education level, professional background
segment in an economy. The amount of the societal know-how of doing complex products in a
thus being critical to have needed the inputs, suppliers and customers, and therefore, a proper business ecosystem is a critical factor in terms of survival and success
The transformation in the field of the societal know-how of doing complex products and services in
a competitive way has structural implications for an economy; therefore, the raising complexity and diversification are critical premises for development †as they influence directly the growth potential
transformation of the Romanian economy. Actually, it pictures the transition from an artificially sustained â€oeportfolio†of products and services Romania produced in the state-owned companies, to
a mainly private competitive structure of producing complex and diverse products. In this sense, we could argue that there are some forces that make the medium and long term perspective of
accumulation of societal know-how makes it easier for new ventures to arise and for new ideas to
ï§Entrepreneurship has favorable premises for development, as there is a growing diversity of human resources that are involved in constructing complex products.
adequate public policies for supporting entrepreneurship and SMES, there is high probability that the Romanian business ecosystem will become one of the most competitive and dynamic in the EU
summarized in the following five categories that contain both opportunities and challenges 1. There should be allocated more resources for building networks and clusters with other
important stakeholders. Such an approach is justified by the need to accumulate and retain vital know-how, skills and human capabilities within the extensive system of the organization
and long term opportunity of funding R&d and innovation with the support of public resources A logical extension of the above mentioned elements is that the SMES have to develop an
technologies within the business model of a small and medium enterprise is a difficult job, but it
But if we look at the complexity of the economy, there is clear evidence that since 1995, Romania has been in a transition process from an artificially sustained economic
and services Romania produced in the state-owned companies, to a mainly private competitive structure of producing complex and diverse products
easier for new ventures to arise and for new ideas to be put in place. The shift in the positioning of
networks and clusters with other important stakeholders. Therefore, there are some major managerial implications for SMES that derive from the analysis of the Romania†s R&d and
and excellence in doctoral and postdoctoral research in Romanian economics science domain†REFERENCES Aerts, K.,Schmidt, T. 2008.
R&d investment in China. International Review of Economics and Finance, 19,180-188 Hausmann, R.,Hidalgo, C a.,Bustos, S.,Coscia, M.,Chung, S.,Jimenez, J. et al,(2011.
The Atlas of Economic Complexity: Mapping paths to prosperity. Academic Press Kesavayuth, D.,Zikos, V. 2012.
the New Economy",Bucharest, Romania Lin, C.,Lin, P.,Song, F. M.,Li, C. 2011.
Journal of Comparative Economics, 39,176 -190 Martinez-Roman, J. A.,Gamero, J.,Tamayo, J. A. 2011.
Key strenghts and challenges of West region economy...16 III. 1. Main strengths...17 III. 2. Main challenges...
IV. 1. Key challenges and opportunities for target sectors...47 IV. 2. Horizontal policy areas that impact West Region economy...
50 IV. 3. Sector specific smart policy areas in West Region...58 IV. 3. 1. Automotive...
Thematic objectives and investment priorities...69 V. 3. Optimum policy mix and possible budget requirements...
Annex 2 †Decription of regional investment pilot initiatives...93 Annex 3-Use of Integrated Territorial Investments for sustainable development of the
West Region...101 3 List of Figures Figure 1: Romania's GDP per capita as%of EU average (PPP, current international $)..16
Productivity and investment growth (2000-2009)..19 Figure 4-Population Growth Index (2002-2011)..20
Economic activity (Participation) and Unemployment by Level of Educational Attainment -West Region (2009)..23 Figure 9:
Specialization opportunities by cluster...48 Table 16-Overview of weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for the region...
62 Table 17-Priority axes and thematic objectives: an application for the West region...72
Overview of the investment strategy and main funding sources...80 Table 19-Examples of investment pilot initiatives...
83 Table 20-Actions to be supported under the investment priority...84 Table 21-Overall outline and time frame for the development of smart specialization strategy in the
West region...86 5 Executive Summary I. The aim of the Europe 2020 Strategy, launched in 2010,
Europe's economy, while reducing regional disparities in income, wealth and opportunities. To achieve the Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, European union (EU
Member States are encouraged to define â€oesmart specialization†strategies. A â€oesmart specialization†approach is understood as an organic set of policies
facilitating the development of new economic activities through entrepreneurship and experimentation. 1 II. Romania†s West Region is developing a smart specialization strategy, assisted by the World
services and goods producers and to identify policy measures, interventions and smart specialization niches that can help nurture their growth potential.
The World Bank†s advisory services encompass seven deliverables, which will be used by the West Region†Regional Development Agency (RDA West
Diagnostics, Challenges, and Opportunities 6. Smart Specialization Sector Case studies 7. Final Report: Policy Recommendations III.
by a vibrant enterprise sector and marked export orientation. Since the late 1990s the region has experienced rapid economic growth,
which has delivered rising real wages and commensurate improvements in productivity. The annual growth rate of output per worker amounted to 15%in the 2000-09 period.
entrepreneurial activity and the Region has one of the highest concentrations of enterprises and exporters in Romania.
and a high concentration of economic activity and exports. A number of challenges must be overcome to shift the region†s productive system towards higher value added activities and accelerate
Second, economic activity is concentrated in a handful of sectors that represent about half the region†s turnover and employment,
A favorable geographic location, a largely pristine natural environment and unexploited cultural and archaeological assets offer additional possibilities for specialization in higher value added
and communication technology (ICT) and a latent comparative advantage in agro-food and tourism Six clusters (automotive, textiles, agro-food, ICT, construction,
to promote small and medium enterprises (SME) financing and marketing; and to support basic and applied research.
the range of services offered by incubators and business accelerators, and to introduce more effective
medium-sized enterprises TO11. Enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration PA2: Protect nature and cultural assets of the region
TO 6. Protecting the environment and promoting resources efficiency PA3: Education for all at high standards TO 10.
Investment priorities can be tailored to the particular needs of the region and can be promoted with regional initiatives.
which illustrate how investment can foster smart specialization in the region. These investment projects have not been appraised nor endorsed by the
World bank. This list should be considered as merely illustrative XII. Overall, the policy instruments presented in this report constitute potential avenues for
and local investments can support the West Region in developing an integrated smart specialization strategy and in concentrating resources in the most
potential of the West Region†s economy 8 I. Introduction 1. In 2010, the Europe 2020 Strategy was launched as the European Union†s ten-year growth
knowledge-driven approach to economic growth that: builds on existing comparative advantages; helps develop new activities in places where a strong comparative advantage might arise;
larger contribution of the knowledge factor to economic growth. 2 3. Against this backdrop, this report constitutes the final part of the assessment conducted
assessment of services and goods producers in the West Region and to identify policy measures
and Opportunities; and vi) Smart Specialization Case studies Report 5. The first five reports drew on complementary methodological approaches and intended to
perform a complete competitiveness mapping of goods and services producers in the West region The five reports:
iii) evaluated the linkages between economic activity, trade and location in order to identify the challenges of further developing
sectors that have a considerable weight in the regional economy (automotive, textiles, agro-food, ICT
sectors, as well as the opportunities arising at the level of business and research and technological development infrastructure (RTDI) co-operation,
as a way to detect the growth opportunities that lie 2 According to European commission, smart specialization means identifying the unique characteristics and assets
and rallying regional stakeholders and resources around an excellence-driven vision of their future. It also means strengthening regional innovation
economy. (http://ec. europa. eu/regional policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/smart specialisation en. pdf 9 ahead in these industries.
Second, it sets investment priorities that are tailored to the particular needs of the local industries and
Third, it proposes a number of specific investment projects. While presenting directions for increasing the economic development of the region based on
which illustrate how investment can foster smart specialization in the region 8. The report is structured in five chapters following this introduction.
tackle both the structural weaknesses in Europe†s economy exposed by the crisis, as well as long term
innovation strengths and weaknesses and emerging opportunities and market developments, as a way to identify the existing and potential competitive advantages in comparison with other regions.
through peer reviews involving public officials, practitioners and regional stakeholders. The goal of this approach is to avoid unnecessary duplication and fragmentation of efforts,
and to exploit opportunities for joint programming, transnational cooperation and joint leverage of EU instruments
Economic activity rate (2011; Source: Eurostat 5 Data for 2010; Source: Eurostat 6 Persons aged 25-64 with tertiary education attainment(%;
terms of human, physical and natural capital, knowledge, institutions and networks), the design of the
activities, eco-innovation, innovative services, high value-added markets or specific research and innovation areas. Such a strategy would help avoid duplication, increasing uniformity and lack of
In its Communication Regional Policy Contributing to Smart Growth in Europe8 the Commission provides suggestions related to the key concepts that need to be presented in a smart
Clusters provide a favorable environment to foster competitiveness and drive innovation. Support for cluster development has to be concentrated
b) Innovation-friendly business environments for SMES, R&d intensive ones especially, and the creation of new firms.
curricula on transversal competences like creativity, entrepreneurship and initiative will help young people to develop their full potential for innovation
e) Creativity and cultural industries can help to boost local economies, stimulate new activities create new and sustainable jobs,
while improving the quality of its services and productivity 8 COM (2010) 553 13 h) Regional Policy addressing the grand challenges (such as climate change, energy and resource
efficiency, raw material scarcity and demographic ageing) through European Innovation Partnerships 16. In line with the long term Europe 2020 goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the
policy provides a framework for financing a wide range of projects and investments with the aim of
encouraging economic growth in EU Member States and their regions 17. The Cohesion Policy follows three main drivers.
Structural Investment (ESI) funds for 2014-2020, which encompasses European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Agricultural Fund for
and use and quality of, information and communication technologies 3. enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, the agricultural
sector (for the EAFRD) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector (for the EMFF 4. supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors
5. promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management 6. protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency
7. promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures 8. promoting employment and supporting labor mobility
to be translated into specific investment priorities12set out according to the ESI Funds specific rules 21. As part of the Cohesion Policy for the 2014-2020 programming period, smart specialization has
achieved mainly through the following investment priorities under TO1: i) promoting business investment in innovation and research;
ii) developing links and synergies between enterprises, R&d centers and higher education, in particular product and service development, technology transfer, social
innovation and public service applications, and demand stimulation; and, iii) networking, clusters and open innovation through smart specialization.
In practice, there is a strong link between the TO1 and increase of competitiveness of SMES (TO3.
Promoting investments under TO3 is crucial in order to enhance the results achieved under TO1 22. Against the Cohesion Policy backdrop, the European commission has sent recently position
The horizontal TO11 is essential for underpinning the investments promoted under the remaining TOS 11
1. Improving human capital through higher employment, and better social inclusion and education policies, 2. Developing modern infrastructure
Investment priorities set out detailed objectives, which are not mutually exclusive, to which the funds shall contribute.
These investment priorities should form the basis for the definition of specific objectives within programs
support and investments on key national or regional priorities, challenges, and needs for knowledge -based development.
-based innovation and aim to stimulate private sector investment. These policies, which are evidence -based and include sound monitoring
stakeholders and encourage innovation and experimentation 24. In Romania, the authorities have decided to promote a National Smart Specialization Strategy
Key strenghts and challenges of West region economy 26. In the run up to the EU accession, the Romanian economy experienced healthy rates of
growth in incomes. This process was driven by the increasing integration of the Romanian economy with the EU Single Market,
which, despite significant progress, is still below the average of other new Member States. Following the post-transition recession, in the 2000†s the country†s economic expansion
was fuelled by unrestrained access to EU capital and product markets, which allowed Romanian firms to
economy experienced growth averaging 6. 5%per annum and saw GDP per capita rise from 26%of the
task have provided a complete competitiveness mapping of services and goods producers in the West Region.
the region and have pointed specific strengths and opportunities, as well as a number of challenges that need to be addressed as part of an effective development strategy for the region
The region has experienced rapid economic growth which has delivered rising real wages supported by commensurate improvements in productivity
investment. Over the previous decade, the West experienced the highest growth in output per worker
It is worth noting at this stage that productivity growth is assumed not to be determined only by investments in
Productivity and investment growth (2000-2009 Source: Calculations based on data from Eurostat: Gross fixed capital formation by NUTS 2
behind the capital on this measure, and well behind European averages. Among the population of 20-24
Economic activity (Participation) and Unemployment by Level of Educational Attainment-West Region 2009 Source: Calculations based on data from INS:
enterprise-and trade-dense regions in Romania. In 2010, it ranked third in number of firms per capita
entrepreneurship. In 2010, the last year for which firm level data from SBS dataset are available, gazelles
sectors, suggesting that economic growth is likely to be balanced more, i e. evenly spread among different parts of the economy
Figure 12: Sector Distribution of Gazelles in the West Region (2010 Source: World bank staff calculation based on SBS data
firms are defined as those enterprises that are sampled in both years, while exiting firms are sampled those only in
Finally, the new start-up enterprises (NSU) are those whose date of incorporation is more recent than 2005
Fruits of economic growth were distributed not evenly across the region 45. The fruits of economic growth and convergence with Europe were distributed not evenly
across the region. Already substantial inequalities in economic and social outcomes were exacerbated sharply over the past decade.
Income disparities are linked to the concentration of population and economic activity in the main urban areas. While the cities of Arad (and its eastern and western fringes) and Timiè oara
for relatively less economic activity than their population would suggest. Overall, value added per capita in the urban localities of the West Region stood in 2010 almost 2. 4 times greater than that in rural
As a result of the spatial effect of the transition of the economy and conditioned in part by
As part of a post socialist country, the West region economy was dominated by large state industries up until the early 1990s.
lack of a tradition of entrepreneurship and SMES during the communist period has been a hindrance to
shaping the economies of the counties today and have reinforced regional disparities. As discussed in
Economic activity is concentrated increasingly by sector, firm size and firm ownership 56. Economic activity in the West Region is concentrated in a handful of sectors that represent
about half of the region†s turnover and employment25. According to the World bank report â€oecompetitiveness of West Romania Firms:
employment in 2010 and the concentration of the West Region economic activity around them has increased between 2008 and 2010.26
services sectors, wholesale and retail trade dominate the landscape in terms of turnover (9. 2%and 3. 8
contributed to significant investment and job creation, but has played an important role in integrating the West Region ever more tightly into the European economy
66. In fact, there is evidence showing that the region is connected to global value chains in agro
services †prevents the use of the Taymaz et al (2011) methodology. However, the presence of foreign
it does not identify the services segments of value chains, such as R&d, design, commercialization, distribution, marketing/branding, logistics, and
after-sales services, precisely the segments that allow for functional upgrading. Second, being reliant on export data, it does not account for the domestic dimension of value chains thereby providing only a partial overview of
it is less likely the business will be embedded fully in the local economy particularly if it is owned foreign.
and apparel company established in Timisoara in 1995 through foreign investment from Italy While they initially produced basic items like cotton t-shirts and bags,
Increasing dominance of foreign direct investment (FDI) with weak links across firms and to local suppliers
European union, the West benefited significantly from the rush of foreign investment into the country Component suppliers linked to Germany†s automotive sector,
in particular, made heavy investments in the West during the early part of the 2000s. This was based primarily on a simple strategy of leveraging
became almost exclusively a story of foreign investment. Today, more than half of automotive firms in
recipient of foreign investment in the country, behind Bucharest, Centre, and South Muntenia. 34 71.
Foreign ownership in the region†s key sectors brings with it both opportunities and risks.
investment and now operate multiple facilities in the region. Yazaki has made the West Region its supply
intensive assembly operations with investments in R&d center Figure 32: Scope of Firms with Foreign Ownership in the West Region (2010
banks, or by attracting the most skilled labor available in the market. There is no evidence to suggest
However, there is reason to believe that the high demand for skilled labor from foreign firms and the opportunities they can offer may have negative implications for domestic firms.
In particular, in the technical and managerial jobs, foreign firms are able to offer young Romanians the credentials of a
foreign firm, the experience of learning in leading edge environment, and the potential to gain employment experience and opportunities abroad
73. It is worth stressing however that foreign owned firms can also bring significant benefits to
and technology into the regional economy. As foreign firms are almost inevitably more productive and
through human capital (i e. through workers), through supply relationships, and through competition and demonstration effects (via market competition and joint activities.
While the region benefits from the spillovers through human capital †Romanians account for the vast majority of the
workforce of foreign-owned firms, including in management and technical positions †supply chain linkages between the foreign and domestic sector are very weak.
economies, the difficulty for small local suppliers to meet international quality standards, and the fact
and potential in the West Region†s economy; they are: automotive, textiles, agro-food, ICT, construction
the development of new economic activities through measures which support entrepreneurship and experimentation, the current chapter proposes areas for policy action both on a horizontal level
IV. 1. Key challenges and opportunities for target sectors 75. The effectiveness of targeted innovation
structural bottlenecks on the business environment, the region needs to prioritize addressing these obstacles, while taking into consideration the next steps in research and innovation in its medium or
markets or to cope with growing international competition, or support potentially high growth companies to unleash latent comparative advantage through, for example, R&d and innovation policies
investments in skills formation, or other business development services 77. The World bank â€oesmart Specialization Case studies Report†has examined in detail the
economic specialization of the West Region and the clusters under analysis were classified in terms of comparative advantage.
opportunities draws on the Structural Business Survey data (for the 2008-2010 period) and follows a
Specialization opportunities by cluster Cluster Opportunities Automotive Manufacture of Other Electronic and Electric Wires and Cables, and
Manufacture of Other Rubber Products, new solutions for mechanical engineering, motor vehicle transport, etc Textiles Manufacture of Underwear, Manufacture of Other Textiles N e c
It is worth emphasizing that the identification of specialization opportunities for each cluster is limited to the level of sector/activities.
which the identification of specialization opportunities has not drew on data (NACE 4 digit) sector analysis
strategy is to promote the role of the knowledge factor in economic growth, and to act as a flexible
but not to focus on specific economic activities 81. Each cluster has its own constraints and specificities that will shape the future development of
and a system of local R&d and innovation to develop prototypes or to produce customized
enhancing the pool of skilled labor which is in shortage in the region; creating a good environment for startups;
develop business accelerators and adapt incubators to the needs of the ICT sector; helping firms connect with global
customers; enhancing linkages and interactions with downstream (user) sectors; and improving the patenting policy 85.
For the construction cluster, the challenge is to better explore the local availability of construction materials and to increase the use of energy efficient materials and technologies, which
for the construction sector have decreased steadily since 2008 as a result of the economic crisis. As a result of the retrenchment in private sector investment,
the government has become one of the most important clients for construction companies in the West Region.
which has negative consequence including an unjustified competition between complementary destinations such as Timisoara and Arad.
administrative capacity for complex investment tourism-related projects, and the lack of regional integrated tourism products to be sold on local and foreign tourism markets
it will propose investment priorities that best fit the specific development needs of the West Region,
supported under these investment priorities IV. 2. Horizontal policy areas that impact West Region economy
88. The identification of the main horizontal policy areas results from the combination of a
main bottlenecks for economic growth. Horizontal policy areas (outlined below) represent obstacles to economic development which have a significant impact on growth at the regional level and across
supply and labor demand and overeducation. This will require investments to improve the links between
universities (as well as vocational training facilities) and employers. It may also pay to make strategic investments in promoting disciplines
and skills that are likely to be the cornerstones of the region†s future economy
91. Lifelong learning is another important area for policy action. Lack of investment in lifelong learning makes the region†s labor force unable to adapt to changing skills requirements resulting from
shifts in industry structure and technology. The result is high levels of structural unemployment (and low
and ensuring that the infrastructure and services (public and private) are there to support it,
This approach will ensure that new graduates acquire a skills set that meets the demands of
A concern highlighted in interviews with R&d stakeholders as well as with the private sector was the lack of entrepreneurial and business management know-how.
as part of incubator services, or be provided to entrepreneurs through specialized programs at the local level
Infrastructure connections to the capital (and the rest of the country) remain poor, and virtually every settlement in the West Region is closer to either Budapest
European capitals. It may also be important to support the growth and diversification of the region†s
Recent investments by some of the existing large automotive companies to establish second plants in Hunedoara
represents a huge opportunity to address both sides of the regional challenge. Improving transport connectivity of these regions so that shifting managers and engineers back and forth between regional
important and a key issue for EU services •Access to finance 101. Discussions with the private sector in the West Region indicate that many firms
reimbursements for investments pre-financed by the company may extend past the date specified in the
amount for the necessary investments, or it takes advantage of the EU resources and invests only some
-technologies, turbo-motors, electrical engineering, energy, environment protection, mechanics and materials, textile, leather, agro food and bio-food †products, machine and technologies
while services are provided at county level. However, there is insufficient cooperation between regional and national authorities.
marketable, nor does it meet the demands of the private sector. 42 Authorities and policy makers should
connect national and local stakeholders and help to improve the regional innovation system (see Box
Economy, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration and with the regional structures in designing and applying of the research, development and innovation policy
stakeholders in the region do not have much experience with licensing and not sufficiently aware of the potential
key stakeholders in the region, would hold quarterly meetings and design common projects, bringing on
lifelong learning in order to answer to the demands of the business sector in the region. Representatives of the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of National Education should be part of this Committee
The Enterprise Ireland provides a successful model of organization for this purpose (see Box 2
Box 2-Enterprise Ireland Enterprise Ireland is the government organization responsible for the development and growth of
Irish enterprises. It works in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and conquer
market share on global markets. The organization provides supports for both companies and researchers in
higher education institutes to develop new technologies and processes that will lead to job creation and increased exports
Enterprise Ireland is a body corporate established by the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland Act, 1998.
Board of Enterprise Ireland constitute the members of the agency. The agency operates in accordance with
Enterprise and Innovation who is empowered to provide funds to the agency to enable it to discharge its
The Enterprise Ireland Board and its relevant committees have the authority to purchase shares (ordinary and preference) in client companies
Under the terms of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998, all functions and powers are
Enterprise Ireland fully complies with Government policy on the pay of Chief executives and State Body employees and with Government guidelines
Board members are appointed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, with the consent of the Minister for Public.
•The Investment Portfolio Review Committee has responsibility for overseeing the management of Enterprise Ireland†s investment portfolio and for maintaining an oversight of
the investment activity of funds supported by Enterprise Ireland under the various seed and venture capital programmes
•The Innovation Fund Ireland Committee considers and recommends to the Board applications for funding under the Innovation Fund Ireland Scheme
•The Executive Committee manages and controls the administration of Enterprise Ireland†s budget, monitors progress against organizational targets,
and considers matters of corporate policy, including financial product guidelines, sectoral policies and strategies, regional
Enterprise Ireland†s approach to R&d and innovation is guided by the Government†s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, 2006-2013, which is
coordinated by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The R&d Fund was launched in early 2008
specialization strategy is to expand the role of knowledge and innovation in economic growth, rather than to try â€oeoutsmarting†the market
prototypes, test their new designs, products and processes and help them to become included in the
The labs will also provide opportunities to conduct more frequent quality tests which will increase reliability of local producers
Closing the gap on financing for the acquisition of productive investments in new technology and machinery plays a key role for the textile sector.
or better financing terms on productive investments, especially on acquisitions of new technology and machinery
The services offered by incubators and business accelerators should be expanded While there is agreement regarding the usefulness of incubators and business accelerators,
it was highlighted during discussions that in order to be useful these infrastructures also need to provide other
services, such as information about the sector and the clients, assistance in drafting business plans, and advice regarding financing options
123. Mentorship programs should be structured more efficiently, and the incentives for mentors have to be clear.
These incentives can take the form of shareholding, or the right to subsequently participate in the ownership and management of intellectual property.
The development of links with global customers and with downstream user sectors is also important.
downstream users and global customers would also be necessary IV. 3. 5. Construction 126. Policies to support the regional construction
advantage, creating an enabling environment for efficient market selection emerges as an additional useful measure.
A tourism cluster can support cooperation between tourist stakeholders and between the tourism sector and different innovation actors.
the demand side (especially on the European travel market. This form of tourism is based on a bottom
listed in Chapter 5 (and presented in Annex 2) as part of a set of potential investment pilot initiatives
Table 16-Overview of weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for the region Weaknesses Strengths Potential Solutions
Fruits of economic growth not distributed evenly across the region income, wage and export disparities The region the region faces
Economic activity is increasingly concentrated by sector, firm size and firm ownership Export performance is very
market opportunities, business support, national and local investment projects, etc Lack of adequate road infrastructure
and transport connections particularly between business areas and rural communities Physical endowments are reasonably plentiful and
Development of regional investment funds (see chapter 5 and annex 2 Improving the institutional framework supporting innovation
continuing demand for the output produced in the region Establish local research institutes and labs to support firms in
preparing prototypes, and testing new designs, products and processes 63 domestic firms in the sector
Human capital with skill sets that are suitable for the sector†s needs has been expanding in the region
investments, especially on acquisition of new technology and 64 manufacturing The labor force currently employed in the sector is aging
driven commodity chain, the need to upgrading for West Romanian firms in the sector will not be easily
new business opportunities The geographic location of the region gives it a clear advantage relative to the rest of Romania as
Unexploited export opportunities with Serbia. Taking better Support innovation in the industry especially as food engineering
in accordance with market demand and the need to enhance competitiveness advantage of opportunities for trade
with Serbia, especially in agricultural products, could be particularly important for parts of Caraè -Severin
Expansion of services offered by incubators and business accelerators Support to mentorship programs Support the connection between
angel investors and potential entrepreneurs (public action to research the market and connect investors to new creative companies
in need of funding Support the development of links with global customers and with downstream user sectors is also
important ICT competitiveness pole (see chapter 5 and annex 2 Construction Insufficient use of the local raw
services, and facilities Lack of local brand products Lack of integrated tourism service packages Low awareness at the political level
development would require substantial investments in the West region. In the context of the Europe
investment in R&d in the region should be around 160 million Euro in 2020, a substantial increase from
investment priorities tailored to the particular needs of the local industries and proposes actions that
In addition, it draws attention to a number of horizontal, economy-wide areas of intervention that
among different stakeholders in the region. For those policy areas where the RDA is not directly responsible to
opportunities and to offer guidance to key initiatives in the region. According to Law no 315/2004, the RDAS, with
acting in partnership with other stakeholders) projects of regional and intraregional interest, and develop relationships with international bodies for promoting the regional interest
infrastructure investment priorities are eligible for EU co-financing in the 2014-2020 period only if linked
the priority axis and the investment priorities that can be promoted at the regional level and proposes a
number of specific investments V 1. Thematic objectives and investment priorities 140. Out of the eleven TOS defined by the EC, five fit best the specific development needs
of the West Region. Investments priorities to be identified in the next subsections can be financed from different ESI funds, including the ERDF.
Whereas, investments promoted at national level, through other programs, can also be implemented, the current proposal focuses on investments that can be financed
with regional initiatives Thematic Objective 1: Strengthening research, technological development and innovation 141. The need to strengthen research,
technological development and innovation is motivated by the low level of R&d expenditure in the West Region-only 0. 22%of regional GDP in
but such investments are still at early stages. Further investments are needed to support business research and innovation, to develop linkages and synergies between enterprises, and
to improve R&d infrastructure in the region 142. The automotive, textiles, ICT, and agro-food sectors,
as well as other activities, have significant potential for growth and innovation. Resource efficient materials can be pursued as an
This would require complementary investments in spa and wellness tourism, ecotourism and active tourism, which can be financed under the TO6.
investments in research, development and innovation, through the creation and consolidation of specialized institutions, such as regional agencies for economic development or regional agencies for
Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises 145. The role of SMES is crucial to ensure economic development of the region, especially in
appears to be more conducive to competition and has the potential to maximize output and
Small and medium sized enterprises in the West Region need support to become competitive. Potential measures targeted at SMES could aim to improve labor productivity and energy
Such solutions can include the creation of investments funds with joint support from EU funding.
Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency 148. The West Region has a significant touristic potential that needs to be exploited further
Expanding the availability of highly skilled labor force that can engage in innovative activities is a major challenge for the region.
including small and medium size enterprises 152. Vocational training also needs to be expanded significantly and upgraded in order to
investments in educational infrastructure should be sustained through ERDF measures. These partnerships can be envisaged as self-sustained projects, or as
part of integrated projects for investments in research and innovation Thematic Objective 11: Enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration
investments. One or more administrative bodies are needed which can coordinate investment implementation and can oversee a rigorous process of monitoring and evaluation.
Moreover institutions such as technology transfer offices can support the smart specialization strategy by promoting private sector collaboration with universities and RDIS
medium-sized enterprises TO11. Enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration PA2: Protect the natural and cultural assets of the
TO 6. Protecting the environment and promoting resources efficiency PA3: Education for all at high standards TO 10.
investment priorities envisage a mix of interventions aimed at (i) fostering the research and innovation
investments 156. Priority Axis 2: â€oeprotect nature and culture assets of the region, while exploiting the
In this regard, investments priorities are designed to leverage the natural and cultural heritage of the region, including the historical urban centers and sites
Productive and â€oesmart†investments can only be complemented successful if with adequate interventions to ensure an appropriate skills match.
Besides soft measures, investments in educational infrastructure have to be continued in order to ensure equal access to education standards of a high standard
The specific objectives and selected investment priorities identified under these three priority axes are described in the following subsections
The first investment priority under this axis is to enhance the regional research and innovation infrastructure and to promote centers of competence.
investment priority are to:(i) increase the research and innovation capacity of the region aiming to
Policy makers can utilize public-private partnerships (PPP) to evaluate private sector†s demand for research and development facilities, by using PPPS to allow the government to invest in high-yield projects.
CITES focus on providing technology services in specific economic sectors. These institutional arrangements have become an important part of Spain†s innovation policy.
The services offered by CITES are tailored to the particular needs of the regions and include
facilitating knowledge-transfer and the adoption of existing technologies by enterprises ï¿overcoming potential gaps in sectoral value chains and helping firms meet quality standards
identifying potential innovation opportunities in terms of products or processes in a variety of industries ï¿facilitating the entry of new products on the market
providing value added services to enterprises and acting as incubators for start-offs ï¿training Overall, these functions respond to the technological needs,
investments, and need to be exploited better and enhanced to promote the smart specialization of the region.
Under this investment priority projects that promote meetings and encourage connections between enterprises will be prioritized, particularly collaborative
projects between two or more SMES 74 163. The second investment priority encompasses two goals:
to promote business investment in innovation and research, and to develop links and synergies between enterprises
research and innovation centers, and higher education for the development of products and services technology transfer, and networking.
The specific objectives of this investment priority are to:(i Promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation in regional economy;
and (ii) Improve access of enterprises to support services and foster enterprise development 164. The technology parks already active in the region would benefit from investments in
upgrading. This would support the development of the existing research potential and promote technology transfer towards private businesses in the region.
The partnerships between universities research institutes and private enterprises, especially the large ones, which have substantial growth
potential based on the smart specialization of the region, are to be promoted in order to develop investments in research and innovation that could generate products and services with high added
value. The most relevant sectors in the West Region economy are automotive, ICT, textile, agro-food, as
well as existing clusters, which have the potential to be developed further. Innovative ICT products can
be envisaged especially if new business structures are to be developed 165. During the next financing period measures can be implemented to help companies
incorporate advanced services and technology into the production process, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the private sector.
Given the limited use of crosscutting technologies such as the ICT design, or eco-innovation, by regional SMES, companies in the tourism and agro-food sectors, as well as
applications, design and the eco-innovation programs and services. Priority will be given to projects that involve collaboration between businesses and industries.
investment priority can include: support for the incorporation of ICT in the tourism, textile and agro
The third investment priority under the current priority axis is to support SME growth and help companies increase innovation capacity.
The specific objectives of this investment priority are to:( (i) contribute to the EU 2020 strategy by increasing the level of employment;(
Measures financed under this priority investment will aim to support SMES to develop their capacity for technology adoption and innovation.
investment is the creation of an agro-food stock-exchange center. By expanding the access of small
The fourth investment priority is to enhance the growth potential of the rural areas by investing in the agro-food sector.
The specific objectives of this investment priority are to:(i) improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector;
on-farm investments, financing for processing, marketing and development of agricultural products and investments in support infrastructure;
and (ii) facilitating generational renewal through business start -up aid for young farmers50 169. Measures under this investment priority should also promote food chain organization
and risk management in agriculture by:(i) better integrating primary producers into the food chain through support for quality schemes, promotion in local markets, horizontal and vertical cooperation
new marketing and networking opportunities, the development of short supply chains, and the setting up of producer groups;
and (ii) assisting farmers with risk management and financing investments in preventive and restoration actions 170.
The fifth investment priority aims to support the development of innovative finance capacity. The specific objectives of this investment priority are to:(
i) create new financial mechanisms to accelerate economic development; and (ii) create a regional development fund
The Small Enterprise Assistance Fund (SEAF) launched in 2006 the Georgia Regional Development Fund, a financing mechanisms which focuses on investments in SMES located outside the country's capital
Tbilisi, and those operating in the agro-food sector. The Fund's 30 million USD portfolio comprises investments
in fishing, fruit concentrate production, ecotourism hotels, and furniture In order to prepare regional SMES in Georgia to compete on international markets the Fund Manager
As one of the main problems for investments at SMES level represents the lack of
adequate financing opportunities, the introduction of a regional development fund, partially financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD), could provide a sustainable solution.
fund could act as a manager for investments in SMES located in the West Region, and can administrate
combined interventions of reimbursable funds and grants for productive and innovative investments under the umbrella of the Regional Operational Programme.
availability of financing through a multiplying effect at the level of the regional economy 172.
The sixth investment priority is to develop an institutional framework to support innovation in West Region.
The specific objective of this investment priority is to ensure the management of smart specialization investments
173. Establishing an innovation center at the regional level which can play a key role in the
investments requires an administrative entity that can coordinate, monitor and evaluate investment progress, in order to identify potential bottlenecks
and find appropriate solutions. In this context, the goal of an institutional framework to support innovation in West Region is to ensure the effective and
This investment priority could be financed through ERDF and/or EARDF 76 efficient commissioning and implementation of smart specialization investments,
and to maintain dialog and coordination with regional actors and with national authorities 174. In this context, an innovation center for the West Region could act as an agency on
continuity and expansion of smart specialization investments, as well as their coordination and synchronization with other instruments or policies.
The first selected investment priority under this priority axis is to protect, promote and develop the regional cultural and natural heritage.
The specific objectives of this investment priority are:( (i) the restoration and sustainable use of the cultural heritage and the modernization or
tourism infrastructure in order to increase the quality of tourism services and to support the sustainable use of natural resources
them a real economic value by integrating them into attractive tourism circuits. The local administration can identify and promote projects to rehabilitate the historical sites
The second investment priority is to protect and restore soil and biodiversity and to promote ecosystem services including NATURA 200051 and green infrastructure.
The specific objective of this investment priority is to protect and promote the bio diversity of the national parks of the West
region. This strategy can comprise two main actions:(i) including the protected natural areas for which
http://ec. europa. eu/environment/nature/natura2000 /77 measures specified by these existing plans. Management plans are essential in order allow land or forest
The first investment priority under this priority axis is to improve the skills and competences of the labor force in order to best meet market needs.
investment priority are:(i) increasing the share of population with tertiary education; and (ii encouraging the access to professional development,
The analysis of the regional level economy revealed a mismatch between the available skills and the needs of the labor market in the West Region.
the support of the regional authorities that can ensure coordination between the demand side and the
future investments. In this respect, adapting theoretical education and vocational training to the demands of the labor market, increasing the relevance of the educational and vocational training offer
by anticipating private sector requirements, and ensuring the applicability of the learning material, are key role for the economic development of the region.
programs in correlation with labour market demands, especially for sectors with significant growth potential, in order to ensure complementarity with the competitiveness strategy.
environment and research institutes 181. The second investment priority under this priority axis is to invest in education, skills
and lifelong learning by developing education and training infrastructure. The specific objective of this investment priority is the rehabilitation, modernization, development and expansion of pre†university
university education and continuous vocational training infrastructure 182. Soft Measures such as educational and vocational training programs have to be
Investments that have started under the current period should continue in order to build an appropriate educational infrastructure endowment at the level of the region
In addition to the investments priorities under the overall priority axes described above, local road and transport infrastructure has emerged as a key issue for the competitiveness of
investment priorities are eligible for EU co-financing in the 2014-2020 period only if linked to a national
degree of dependence of the rural economy on increased connectivity to larger urban centers. The selection of the main national and county roads that need to be connected through secondary and
of small and medium-sized enterprises (as defined by EC) â€. At national level, investment priorities could
concentrate on supporting (i) the national institutes for research and development, structures under the coordination of the Romanian Ministry of Education,
and (ii) the research, development and innovation, within the large enterprises. At regional level, the investment priorities could concentrate on regional competitiveness enhancement
and smart specialization and need to envisage a mix of interventions aimed at (i) fostering the research
sustainable investments. The projects to be financed under these two thematic objectives have to be in
6 â€oeprotecting the environment and promoting resources efficiencyâ€, which can be financed from ERDF and CF, supports both national and regional investment priorities.
At national level, the priorities could focus on supporting water and waste sectors (financed from CF),
while at regional level, the investment priorities could concentrate on investments financed from ERDF, such as protecting, promoting and
developing cultural and national heritage as well as the preservation of biodiversity through the proper implementation of management plans.
investment priorities. At national level, these investment priorities could concentrate on type of actions which can be supported by the ESF,
and at regional level on ERDF type of interventions, such as upgrading and modernizing education infrastructure.
The detailed program overview, including specific objectives for each investment priority are presented below, along with the potential financing sources which can include national
Overview of the investment strategy and main funding sources Priority axis Thematic objective Investment priorities Specific objectives corresponding to the
investment priorities Financing resources /programme 1. Regional competitivenes s enhancement and smart specialization TO1. Strengthening
research technological development and innovation 1. 1. Enhancing R&i regional infrastructure and capacities to develop R&i and
increasing the investments in research and development Increase the research and innovation capacity of the region aiming to create new
investment in innovation and research and developing links and synergies between enterprises, R&i centers and
higher education in particular products and service development technology transfer and networking Contribute to EU 2020 strategy by
increasing the investments in research and development Promote the transfer of knowledge and innovation in regional economy
Improving access to support services for SMES, to foster their development National, local and EU funds
West Regional OP TO3. Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium -sized enterprises 1. 3. Supporting the capacity of
SMES to engage in growth and innovation process Contribute to EU 2020 strategy by increasing the investments in research and
development Contribute to EU 2020 strategy by increasing the level of employment Supporting access to international markets
Priority axis Thematic objective Investment priorities Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priorities Financing resources
/programme of innovative finance capacity for regional development supporting economic development Create the Regional Development Fund
specialization investments National local and EU funds from West Regional Operational Programme or Technical Assistance
environment and promoting resources efficiency 2. 1. Protecting, promoting and developing cultural and national heritage
increasing the quality of tourism services National, local and EU funds West Regional Operational Programme
services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructure Promote the bio-diversity of the National Parks of West region
Priority axis Thematic objective Investment priorities Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priorities Financing resources
/programme 3. Education for all at high standards TO 10. Investing in education, skills and
extent, the implementation of investment projects. The table below lists 14 examples of competitiveness and smart specialization investment pilot initiatives that could be developed and
implemented starting with 2014. These investment projects have not been appraised nor endorsed by the World bank. This list should be considered as merely illustrative.
Additional details regarding these potential pilot initiatives are provided in Annex 2 Table 19-Examples of investment pilot initiatives
1. Innovation center for the West Region which could play a key role in the promotion of the innovative potential
proposed actions respond to each investment priority, along with the best modalities to finance projects under each investment priority,
and suggests types a set of general results indicators 53 Established at the national level as part of the EU 2020 Strategy
Table 20-Actions to be supported under the investment priority Investment priorities Proposed pilot initiatives Guidelines for
selection of operations/Financial instruments Results indicator 1. 1. Enhancing R&i regional infrastructure and capacities to develop R&i
investment in innovation and research and developing links and synergies between enterprises, R&i centers and
higher education in particular products and service development, technology transfer and networking Enhancement of the local technology parks
enterprises that introduced new or significantly improved products, new to the market as a result of supported innovation of R&d projects
investments, investments related to the processing marketing and development of agricultural products or investments in infrastructure
for the development and adaptation of agriculture Better integrating primary producers into the food chain through support for quality
and networking opportunities the development of short supply chains and the setting up of producer groups
Investment priorities Proposed pilot initiatives Guidelines for selection of operations/Financial instruments Results indicator 1. 5. Supporting the
specialization investments Number of institutions created No of institutions supported 2. 1. Protecting, promoting and
Investment priorities Proposed pilot initiatives Guidelines for selection of operations/Financial instruments Results indicator Development of technical
Key actions Investment priorities Time frame I. Improve the institutional framework supporting innovation Create the institutional framework for
1. 2. Promoting business investment in innovation and research and developing links and synergies between enterprises, R&i centers
and higher education in particular products and service development, technology transfer and networking Launch the call for projects by end of
Design the investment fund project by mid of 2014 using TA funds from the current
programme Setup the investment fund -end of 2014 87 III. Priority Axis 2 2. 1 Protecting, promoting and
ecosystem services including NATURA 2000 and green infrastructure IV. Priority Axis 3 3. 1 Improving skills and competences
Correlate the investment priority with the Human resources Programme financed under European Social Fund and with the
These objectives aim to tackle both the structural weaknesses in Europe†s economy exposed by the crisis,
income, wealth and opportunities 191. In this context, although the Western part of Romania has a per capita GDP that is
advantages, the region has experienced rapid economic growth which has delivered rising real wages supported by commensurate improvements in productivity.
Third, economic activity in the region is concentrated in a handful of sectors that represent about half of the region†s turnover and
knowledge factor to economic growth 194. The identification of the region†s comparative advantage assumes a key role in the
but because of their relevance and potential in the West Region†s economy. This assessment has revealed, based on available information,
institutes and labs to support firms in preparing prototypes, and testing new designs, products and
terms on productive investments, especially on acquisition of new technology and machinery as a way
expansion of services offered by incubators and business accelerators; support for mentorship programs; support for the connection between angel investors and potential entrepreneurs
) and support for the development of links with global customers and with downstream user sectors.
3) Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises 6) Protecting the environment and promoting resources efficiency (10) Investing in education, skills
and lifetime learning; and (11) Enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration 199. Second, after grouping the selected thematic objectives under priority axis, specific
investment priorities were identified. In order to help meet the goals of the EU 2020 strategy, these investment priorities aim to:
increase financing in research, development and innovation process in the West Region (priority Axis 1;
These investment projects have not been appraised nor endorsed by the World bank. This list should be considered as merely illustrative
The region has a dynamic economy, and stands out among the other regions of Romania as result of a high level of economic development, solid export
In the 2014-2020 period, the West Region has the opportunity period to use its
79 all (services regarding tour-operators&booking 932 all (services regarding entertainment Table A1. 9. Construction cluster:
NACE 2 sector list Sector NACE CODES Comments Construction 41 all (country definition 42 all (country definition
Annex 2 †Decription of regional investment pilot initiatives The table below lists 14 examples of competitiveness and smart specialization investment pilot
initiatives that could be developed and implemented starting with 2014. These investment projects have not been appraised nor endorsed by the World bank.
This list should be considered as merely illustrative Pilot initiatives Brief overview 1. Innovation center for the West Region which
and evaluate investment progress in the region, in order to identify potential bottlenecks and find appropriate solutions.
specialization investments, and to maintain dialog and coordination with regional actors and with national authorities
innovative investments Innovative software applications would greatly also enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector Note:
entrepreneurship, growth, innovation research and development, as well employment. This regional fund could support public-private infrastructure investments and
guide the available funding towards innovative projects The establishment of a development fund for the West region †either for specific finance
Economics and Technology), the Kfw and German industry (ALTANA, BASF, B. Braun, Robert Bosch, CEWE Color
preparation of a prototype, a †proof of concept†or to market launch. Usually High-tech Grã nderfonds invests â 0. 5
services for innovative activities The key industrial areas of the West region can also be upgraded to industrial and technology
parks, based on demand assessments The project could potentially be coordinated through the regional innovation center pilot
Events constitute opportunities to discover the traditional heritage of the city presented in a different manner.
and service enterprises in the five northernmost counties of Sweden; Norrbotten Västerbotten, Västernorrland, Jämtland and Gävleborg.
total capital, so it often works in partnership with other funding entities such as banks, venture capitalists, local
prepare prototypes, test their new designs products and processes will and help them to become part of the global supply chain of
provide opportunities to conduct frequent quality tests, thereby increasing the reliability of local producers 7. Laboratory and innovation center for the
The services provided by the new structure can include: computer-aided design, contract quilting, contract yarn spinning, custom
services, custom embroidery, custom slitting specialty weaving, testing end product training and many more. These services would
offer comprehensive solutions that help improve traceability, reduce losses and improve competitiveness Efforts to support local firms should be
entrepreneurs a series of services, such as business development consultancy technology transfer support, or product certification.
demand market can be established to serve a large share of the small agro food firms and
opportunities of the region 13. Geo therapy center This type of initiative would aim to build and
the quality and standards of services 14. Pilot initiative on development solutions for the mining areas
Regional stakeholders and policy makers could launch a pilot initiative to support the economic development of the mining and
Annex 3-Use of Integrated Territorial Investments for sustainable development of the West Region For the 2014-2020, the European commission has proposed new instruments that can be used
One of these instruments Is integrated the Territorial Investment (ITI), which is defined as being a territorial development tool that enables the implementation of a territorial strategy in an integrated
characteristics either of concentration of economic activity, as it is Timisoara-Arad conurbation, or areas lagging behind the rest of the region,
Integrated Territorial Investment for Timisoara †Arad growth pole. Under the current EU financed program-Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013, Timisoara and Arad are considered
stakeholders, such as a stock exchange center, an accredited laboratory for food safety and veterinary tests or a laboratory and innovation center for textile industry
concentration of economic activities Integrated Territorial Investment Jiu Valley. Jiu Valley can become a flourishing area if
appropriate measures are taken. By creating the ITI for Jiu Valley a strong partnership of the 6 small
mining territory with poor population depending on mining activities, without other job opportunities and low level of attractiveness for investments bearing a permanent declining since 1990.
Integrated measures are needed to ensure the regeneration of the region, focusing on: infrastructure rehabilitation to facilitate the connection between localities;
sustainable economic environment through measures for using the coal tailings in a smart way; and
promoting economic growth in the region, the following priorities can be identified in a common development strategy at the level of the two counties
and promoting investments under different operational programs, as part of the regional development plan for the
Overtext Web Module V3.0 Alpha
Copyright Semantic-Knowledge, 1994-2011