The policy advice centers on the most important conclusions of the project. The LARS project partners have found that transnational learning may be applied in practice and that it complements smart specialization in the quest for new and innovative solutions.

The LARS project is looking for improvements supporting innovation in public sector policies.

In this 5th Newsletter of the LARS project we report on the work on policy transfers between regions. Regional economic performance is fostered by well-targeted policy instruments and it may well be that transnational learning is the fastest path to policy development.

In late April, the LARS project held its fifth partner meeting and transnational learning seminar. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in Riga. However, due to the corona pandemic, the partners met digitally. Still, the two-day meeting was a success and the partner eagerly shared insights and results...

What role should public organisations play in innovation activities? The dissertation by Antti Mäenpää is looking at the role of public organisations as innovation agents. The Connectivity model used in Mäenpää's research was designed to help the region of Ostrobothnia in its strategy formulation.

The core of Smart Specialisation lies in discovering new opportunities. Discovering new innovative solutions stems from well-connected innovation networks in the regions but also from learning on innovative solutions in other regions.

The LARS project partners met up in Hamburg November 28th-29th for the partner meeting of this intensive and important phase of the project, this time hosted by Hamburg University of Applied Sciences.

The LARS project attempts to help the public sector operating within various institutional frameworks to support innovation processes in their regions, and to connect innovation networks across and beyond the borders of regions. LARS is looking for improvements in public sector policies, supporting innovation.

On the 10th EUBSR Annual Conference in Gdansk, the LARS project and partners arranged the seminar Enhancing business-driven circular economy. The well-attended seminar sparked a lively discussion on the role of the public sector acting as a catlyst for business-driven circular economy.

The LARS project is now moving towards its transnational learning phase. The partners are analyzing the stakeholder connectivity in the regions. Which stakeholder innovation partnerships exist and which are needed? The goal is to find ways for learning among regions.