Smart Specialisation
We are very proud of Gippsland's status as the first (and currently only) region outside of Europe to be registered on the EU smart specialisation platform. This pride was further boosted when the region's journey was featured in a European Commission JRC Science for Policy Report.
Titled Enhancing the Sustainability Dimension in Smart Specialisation Strategies: A Framework for reflection, the report looks at the framework and lessons from policy practice to align Smart Specialisation (S3) with Sustainable Development Goals.
The case study notes that targeted networking and stakeholder engagement have been crucial to successfully implementing the S3 principles on crucial local projects and that the Gippsland Business Innovation Survey modelled on the European Community Innovation Survey and adapted to a Gippsland context, has been a creative solution to source data and create evidence of progress for the region.
Developing pathways for the Sustainable Development Goals to influence strategy and action in Gippsland
Advancing Regional Strengths Fund (ARSF)
Grant amount $64,990 (ex GST)
The research project - Developing Pathways for the Sustainable Development Goals to Influence Strategy and Action in Gippsland - was funded by the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) and led by Dr Jess Reeves (Sustainability Science) and a team of researchers from Federation University Australia, including Dr Monica Green (Chair, Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development, Gippsland), Prof Andrew O’Loughlin (Principles for Responsible Management Education) and Ms Kaveena Swan (Industry Placement Program), in partnership with Dr Carla Bruce (Smart Specialisation Project Manager, Latrobe Valley Authority).
The research project, completed in November 2022, sought to help a region in transition by developing a co-designed model for implementation of the SDG framework into the LVA’s Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy (GS3) that could then be used more broadly to create better alignment of organisational strategies throughout Gippsland.