Ceeic is hosting the European smart specialisation project PERSIT
The Cartagena Business Innovation Centre (Ceeic) hosted the 3rd Stakeholder Meeting of the European project PERSIST: “Perpetual and Sustainable Implementation of Smart Specialisation Transformation,” an initiative funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Europe program.
The PERSIST project aims to strengthen long-term cooperation around smart specialisation and promote more sustainable and innovative regional development models aligned with European priorities.
The event positions Ceeic as a strategic player in the transfer of European knowledge to the regional innovation ecosystem. As the Spanish partner in the project, the Cartagena innovation centre acts as a liaison between government agencies, businesses, universities, technology centres, and local authorities, facilitating the analysis, adaptation, and transformation of best practices identified in other European regions into real opportunities for the Region of Murcia.
During this session, two particularly relevant best practices, selected as international best practices, were analyzed: participatory S3 governance for a just transition in post-mining regions and multi-level governance in the chemical sector.
The Ústí experience offers valuable lessons for territories undergoing industrial transformation. Its model demonstrates that the smart specialization strategy must function as a dynamic governance tool, capable of integrating industrial policy, open innovation, energy transition, public-private partnerships, and the acquisition of European funds. In this context, Ceeic emphasizes the importance of having stable collaborative structures and mature portfolios of strategic projects aligned with EU priorities.
Among the cases analyzed, Greenmine also stands out as an example of a just transition based on the transformation of a former coal mine through environmental restoration, photovoltaic production, green hydrogen, the establishment of cleantech companies, and the use of just transition funds. These experiences offer valuable lessons that can be applied to the Region of Murcia, particularly in the areas of participatory governance, public-private cooperation, continuous monitoring of the RIS3/RIS4 strategy, business participation, and the development of innovation ecosystems.
The session also included a presentation by Víctor M. García of Ceeic about the upcoming study visit to Podkarpackie-Rzeszów, Poland, scheduled for September 9 and 10. This visit will provide an opportunity to explore one of Europe's most advanced ecosystems in the aerospace, automotive, and digital technology sectors, delving into the workings of its innovation governance model, the coordination between government agencies, universities, technology centers, and companies, as well as policies supporting smart specialization, cluster development, internationalization, and the creation of high-impact European projects. The delegation will also gain firsthand knowledge of the dual aerospace innovation cluster, a European benchmark for integrating civil and defense capabilities, and the strategies that have enabled the consolidation of a highly competitive and internationalized ecosystem.
The meeting was attended by representatives of business and economic development entities such as the Institute for Development, the Employment and Training Service and the Local Development Agency of Cartagena.