Publications

The article explores the key trends behind the success of European RDAs: deeper specialisation, a portfolio approach, client orientation, organisational agility, the development of partnership networks, and long-term trust. Most importantly, it looks at what Ukrainian regional development agencies can learn from this experience.

To better understand the activities of the Swiss-Ukrainian UCORD project, we have prepared a series of fact sheets on key programs, initiatives, tools and areas of work within the three project components.

Following Part 1, which reviewed the emergence of smart specialisation in EU policy and its core concepts, and Part 2, which turned to implementation experience during the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 programming periods, we glance at the possible future of S3 in the EU. Here, we consulted Richard Tuffs, Senior Expert at the “Friends of Smart Specialisation” group, and Francesco Molica, Director of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA).

In Part 2 of the series «Smart Specialisation – Present and Future» we turn to implementation experience during the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 programming periods. Here, we draw on insights from EU practitioners and analysts. In particular, we consulted Richard Tuffs, Senior Expert at the “Friends of Smart Specialisation” group, and Dr. Jan-Philipp Kramer, Partner and Head of EU Services at Prognos AG.

In part 1 of the series «Smart Specialisation – Present and Future», we review how Smart Specialisation, as we know it now, came to be a core part of regional innovation and growth in the EU. We focus on explaining the concepts that build the big picture of S3 and review the historical steps taken before the Smart Specialisation entered the implementation cycle.

EURADA, together with the Decentralization portal and the Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD, have prepared a series of articles on various aspects of EU cohesion policy. This material explains the logic of the EU Structural Funds, as well as proposed changes to their functioning, to see how the multi-level governance model works within the framework of EU regional policy.

The Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD, in cooperation with the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the Decentralization portal, has prepared a series of materials that take the most important terms of cohesion policy and explain them not in isolation, but in connection with each other. So that after reading one section, readers understand how it is connected to the next. The fourth part is “Drivers of Change.

The Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD, in cooperation with the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the Decentralization portal, has prepared a series of materials that take the most important terms of cohesion policy and explain them not in isolation, but in connection with each other. So that after reading one section, readers understand how it is connected to the next. This is the third part - " Key Institutions ".

The Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD, in cooperation with the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the Decentralization portal, has prepared a series of materials that take the most important terms of cohesion policy and explain them not in isolation, but in connection with each other. So that after reading one section, readers understand how it is connected to the next. This is the second part - "Funds and Instruments".

The Swiss–Ukrainian project UCORD, in cooperation with the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) and the Decentralization portal, selected the most important cohesion policy terms and explained them not in isolation, but in relation to one another — so that after reading one section, you understand how it connects to the next. This is the first part - "Key Terms."

The European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), with the support of the UCORD project, has studied the best practices of leading Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in Europe. The analysis covers a wide range of governance models, financing approaches, and the implementation of strategic programs in the context of current challenges and opportunities for regional development.