%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2015 %T Making Smart Regions Smarter: Smart Specialization and the Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Ecosystems %A Markku Markkula %A Hank Kune %K innovation %K innovation ecosystems %K quadruple helix %K role of universities %K smart cities %K smart regions %K smart specialisation %K smart specialization %K societal innovation %K triple helix %X What makes a "smart region" smarter? We argue that it is the active orchestration of the regional ecosystem around concepts such as knowledge co-creation and exploitation, opportunity exploration, and capacity building. Simply adding to the proliferation of software developers in the area, stimulating the activities of business clusters around information technology, and providing digitally enabled services for citizens is not enough to make a region smarter. Smartness is enhanced by a well-orchestrated regional innovation ecosystem with a strong "smart specialization strategy" that leverages the new societal roles played by universities. In this article, we describe the European Commission’s program for research and innovation strategies for smart specialization (RIS3) and show how the Helsinki Region in Finland is using smart specialization, ecosystem orchestration, and the active role of universities to enhance regional innovation and the "smartness" of the region. These activities are discussed in the context of policy documents and strategy papers from regional, national, and European authorities, which illustrates some differences between papers and practice. This is work in progress, and based on early results, we draw initial conclusions about how putting policy into practice can make smart regions smarter. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 5 %P 7-15 %8 10/2015 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/932 %N 10 %1 European Union Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula is the President of the European Union Committee of the Regions (CoR), where he has been a member since 2010 and Rapporteur on several opinions related to topics such as Europe 2020, digitalization, single markets, as well as research and innovation. His experience includes memberships of several High Level Expert Groups, and he is a member of the EU Smart Specialisation Mirror Group. Markku works within Aalto University as the Advisor to Aalto Presidents, focusing on European Union strategy affairs. His previous work experience includes Directorship of the Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli and the Secretary General of the International Association for Continuing Engineering Education IACEE. He is a former member of the Finnish Parliament (1995–2003). As an MP, his international role included the Presidency of EPTA Council (European Parliamentary Technology Assessment Network). In the Helsinki Region, he is the Board member of the Regional Council and the chair of the Steering Board, which makes decisions on the use of Structural Funds. He is a longstanding Espoo City Council member, as well as the chair of the City Planning Board. %2 Educore BV Hank Kune is Director of Educore BV, Founding Partner and member of the governing board of the Future Center Alliance, and active member of the New Club of Paris, a global network organization working as agenda developer for knowledge societies, where his focus is on entrepreneurial initiatives and societal innovation coaching. Hank works with diverse corporate and government organizations in projects about societal innovation and renewal, with a special emphasis on hands-on problem solving in complex social, societal, and organizational situations. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/932