After the introduction, Xabier Goenaga, Head of Unit of JRC (Joint Research Centre) further explained the purpose of the PRI based on involving 24 European participants (member states, regions and groups of regions) in the design and implementation of their own strategic policy framework to deal with innovation, sustainability transitions and economic and social development.

Xabier also highlighted the key role that experience, contacts, cooperation, shared interests, and expertise of the parts involved will play in helping local and regional authorities across the EU to efficiently address their most important challenges. Moreover, he expressed that the fact that there are no funds involved as it is not a project, relieves a lot of pressure from the policy makers, allowing them to act looking for the best possible outcome.

Following this information, he talked about the 3 main areas of improvement of Smart Specialization strategies that have driven this call for expressions of interest:

• 1. Analyze if there is any way to bringmore directionality into the efforts done by the regions, member states and the EU moving towards a digital and green transition. Even more important now with the current situation of Covid-19 and Ukraine crises.
• 2. Reduce the high degree of fragmentation in the management of cohesion and recovery funds and projects. Moreover, improve the management of regional and national resources that could be mobilized to implement an overall innovation strategy at the local, regional or national level. Look for synergies in innovation policies between regions to move faster and in a more inclusive manner towards societal objectives.
• 3. Reduce the vertical fragmentation observed when managing thematic of Smart Specialization Strategies where a disconnection between activities and projects (agri-food, batteries, hydrogen…) was identified. There was no mechanism to join forces between projects developed in the same area to have a more powerful and effective outcome.

In the light of the above, the Pilot Call on Partnerships for Regional Innovation was presented as a unique opportunity for member states and regions to collective work towards the development of digital and sustainability strategies with the help of experts from the European Commission.