Beschreibung:
This technical report presents the results of a case study into the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the implementation of Smart Specialisation in North Central Bulgaria. It is one of a series of case studies within the project on Higher Education for Smart Specialisation (HESS), managed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in cooperation with DG Education and Culture. The aim of the project is to understand how HEIs can play a stronger role in the design and implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), which are an integral part of the EU Cohesion Policy. It also aims to build partnerships between HEIs and their local and regional authorities as well as suggest improvements to EU funding frameworks that will provide incentives for HEIs to engage more in the S3 process. The case of North Central Bulgaria1 has been challenging in the context of the HESS project's aims and objectives, notably in building partnerships with local and regional authorities. For the purposes of EU Cohesion Policy, Bulgaria only has one official S3 at national level. North Central Bulgaria does have a non-binding S3 but there are no financial means to implement it and this territorial level (NUTS II) in Bulgaria have no administrative competences. The only sub-national level with any administrative competences (but not for research and higher education) and capacity to engage is the municipality. Therefore the case study team (the JRC and an external expert) worked with two municipalities within the region: Ruse on the Danube border with Romania and Gabrovo, an old industrial city in the middle of the country. After exploratory meetings in the region, a set of semi-structured interviews were carried out to around the following themes: - Alignment of HEIs activities to Smart Specialisation - Incentives for HEIs to be involved in S3 implementation and regional development - Interregional Cooperation This report begins with an analysis of the background in which HEIs operate, in relation to the HE system, patterns of regional development and governance and the new policy of smart specialisation. Results of the research are then presented followed by some conclusions and policy recommendations.