Vincenzo Provenzano

The links between smart specialisation strategy, the quintuple helix model and living labs

This paper analyzes how the Living Labs can be designed as tools for a more effective implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) within the Quintuple Helix Model. Above all, the Quintuple Helix espouses the formation of a constructive situation encompassing ecology, knowledge and innovation, and creating extensive synergy between economy, society, and democracy. In this paper, we shall be focusing on the Quintuple Helix and Living Labs geared towards creating a shared arena in which services, processes and new ways of working via technology can be developed and tested with user representatives and researchers. Since the Living Lab is a rather new research area, the number of supporting theories for understanding the concept is limited. The same is true when it comes to methodologies, methods and tools. The aim of the paper is to clarify these perspectives and to illustrate how they can enhance each other.

Europe 2020 Sl-LAB: A New Center for Economic and Social Development in Sicily

The debate on the determinants of regional and local development has been stimulated recently by the European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth defined as Europe 2020. We present the objectives and structure of a new laboratory (SI-LAB) for the development of Sicilian economy promoted by the University of Palermo. In particular, we highlight the fundamental issues related to the incoming functioning of the Lab as a new oganization devoted to analyzing public policy issues, and fostering new ways of entrepreurship at the local level.

Europe 2020 Strategy and New Policies for Marginal Areas

Marginality should be seen as an a asset rather than a liability for a region or a community. Marginality reflects a strategy of economic development, and this paper also seeks institutional means for championing marginality over conformity.