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Shared Agendas in Catalonia

The Catalan Regional Government’s strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3CAT 2030) is framed in a context of major global challenges, such as climate change, pollution, waste of resources, persistent unemployment, increasing social inequalities (including inequalities between men and women), and an ageing population. The RIS3CAT 2030 responds to these challenges by engaging regional stakeholders in transformative action to accelerate the transition towards a green, resilient and fair socioeconomic model aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The engagement of regional stakeholders in these transformations is done through bottom-up and challenge-driven Shared Agendas.

The RIS3CAT 2030 approach is conceptually and methodologically based on the Transformative Innovation Policy approach (TIP). In this regard, since 2020, Ingenio (CSIC-UPV) has been collaborating with the Catalan Regional Government and other regional stakeholders to support the conceptual and methodological development of a framework for Shared Agendas, which are a key approach within the regional strategy. The collaboration is on-going, and the RIS3CAT 2030 will develop until year 2027.

Lead partner Organisation
Catalan Regional Government (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Further info
Initiative Submitted by
Míriam Acebillo-Baqué
Barcelona, Spain
Researcher
Organisation
Ingenio (CSIC-UPV)
Organisation type
University
Describe the Portfolio and its context

The RIS3CAT 2030 is Catalonia’s strategy for smart specialisation. RIS3CAT 2030 prioritises 7 systemic transformations to accelerate this transition: • A sustainable, fair, equitable and healthy food system • An environmentally-friendly, emissions-neutral energy and resource system • A sustainable mobility and logistics system • A universal, sustainable, resilient social and healthcare system • A sustainable and competitive industrial system • A reflective, proactive, inclusive and responsive education and knowledge-generation system • A cultural system that integrates people, territory and history The main RIS3CAT instruments to encourage and support stakeholders’ engagement in Shared Agendas are the Opportunities Discovery Mechanism and the Knowledge Regions Programme. On the one hand, the ODM is organised in seven technical offices, one for each of the systemic transformations prioritised by RIS3CAT 2030. The technical offices are assigned to different Government departments (ministries), according to their competences. The Department of Economy and Finance is responsible for coordinating the technical offices and monitoring the RIS3CAT 2030. Through the ODM, the Government promotes the active involvement of stakeholders (regional and local administrations, universities, research and technology centres, companies and civil society organisations and associations) in place-based shared agendas contributing to the systemic transformations prioritised by RIS3CAT. It does so by creating a new profile of policymakers with knowledge on transformative innovation policy and systems thinking and with skills to engage multiple stakeholders in transformative collective action. On the other hand, through the RIS3CAT Knowledge Regions Programme, the Catalan Government supports the engagement of universities and research centres in shared agendas to accelerate the systemic transformations prioritized by RIS3CAT 2030. For the 12 Catalan universities, the Programme envisages the articulation within universities of ”Transformative Innovation Labs” managed by professionals with skills in transformative innovation, systems thinking and stakeholders’ engagement. These professionals collaborate with the ODM staff and with stakeholders engaged in shared agendas. They are key for connecting and engaging researchers and students with regional and local challenges and local dynamics. Ingenio (CSIC-UPV) gives conceptual and methodological support to Shared Agendas and the overall RIS3CAT 2030 through a formative evaluation approach.

Start date
01/01/2020
End date
31/12/2027
Target Country
Spain
Initiative Intervention Level
RegionPlace-based and multistakeholders initiatives
System Dimensions
Science, Technology and InfastructurePolicy & GovernanceInvestment and FinanceSociety and cultureMarkets
Which unsustainable structures & practices (Regime) does the initiative address?

Catalonia’s strategy for smart specialisation (RIS3CAT 2030) is framed in a context of major global challenges, such as climate change, pollution, waste of resources, persistent unemployment, increasing social inequalities (including inequalities between men and women), and an ageing population.

What are the sustainable structures & practices (niches) being created by the initiative?

RIS3CAT, through Shared Agendas, aims to engage regional stakeholders in transformative action to accelerate the transition towards a green, resilient and fair socioeconomic model aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The alternative practices that are fostered, and therefore the actors that are mobilised, depend on the considered Shared Agenda.

Which sector does the initiative primarily target for change?

Multiple

Is the initiative an experiment?

YES: Yes, we consider it as an experiment. Shared Agendas are conceptually and methodologically inspired by the literature and practice of Transformative Innovation Policy, as well as by Systems Thinking.

Transformative Change Process
Building and nurturing nichesExpanding and mainstreaming nichesOpening Up and Unlocking Regimes

People

Míriam Acebillo-Baqué
Researcher, Ingenio (CSIC-UPV)