A FALTA DE ESPECIALIZAÇÃO,

EXPLICAÇÃO PARA O ATRASO

Une spécialisation au niveau régional comme clé de la compétitivité européenne

Selon un récent rapport, c'est le manque de spécialisation au niveau régional qui pourrait expliquer le fossé entre l'Europe et ses principaux compétiteurs en terme de compétitivité.

Recent research indicates that regional clusters enable companies to reach higher levels of productivity and be more innovative. A report mapping and analysing the regional clusters of the EU-10 states that "the lack of regional specialisation might be an important factor explaining the European competitiveness gap with leading global peers".  The report, authored by  Europe INNOVA, first recommends enhancing geographical specialisation and efficient allocation of economic activity accross the EU. With this regard, the authors suggest that the EU could help, for example, by removing barriers to trade, investment and labour mobility. Secondly, it calls the EU to provide 'process' support for regional cluster development intitiatives, such as for the strengthening of linkages between companies, regional government agencies and research and educational institutions. Thirdly, referring to the complexity of the innovation process involving many actors, the authors call for improved effectiveness of EU competitiveness policies such as regional, science and innovation, competition, enterprise and SME and sectoral policies. In striving towards the Lisbon goals of competitiveness, some EU member states have launched different national initiatives to raise their and different regions' research profile. In July 2005, the French government, for example, announced the creation of some 60 regional poles of competitiveness and six industrial clusters (see EurActiv 13 July 2005). Documents officiels de l'UE Europe INNOVA: Clusters in the EU-10 new member countries Eurobarometer: 2006 Innobarometer on cluster’s role in facilitating innovation in Europe (July 2006) Gouvernement French Government: CIADT : Dominique de Villepin dévoile les 67 pôles de compétitivité (12 juillet 2005) Articles de Presse CORDIS News: Could increasing regional specialisation boost innovation in the new Member States? (24 August 2006) Recent research indicates that regional clusters enable companies to reach higher levels of productivity and be more innovative. A report mapping and analysing the regional clusters of the EU-10 states that "the lack of regional specialisation might be an important factor explaining the European competitiveness gap with leading global peers".