Universities and RIS3: the case of Catalonia and the RIS3CAT Communities

This report contributes to the debate on the role of Higher Education Institutions in RIS3 by exploring the case of Catalonia. It first assesses the role of universities in the overall design and implementation of the Catalan RIS3 and EDP, and then goes in depth into one of its key instruments, namely the RIS3CAT Communities. The latter provide a platform for triple-helix stakeholders to interact and agree on a set of collaborative projects, which can be partially funded by public resources. Based on in-dept interviews with senior university managers and desk-based research, the study highlights how HEIs are evolving and adapting to the new policy environment and identifies the advantages and challenges posed by RIS3CAT Communities as a policy instrument.

Authors: Elisabetta Marinelli, Susana Elena-Perez, Josep Alias