Bridging Innovation Ecosystems: How I Can Support HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-05-ACCESS-01
Leveraging network science, smart specialisation, and innovation systems to strengthen regional innovation valleys in widening countries.
Horizon Europe Call:
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-05-ACCESS-01: Co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys
Why This Call Matters
This call aims to connect regional innovation ecosystems across Europe and foster collaboration among regions with diverse levels of innovation capacity. Building on Smart Specialisation Strategies and EU-wide priorities such as the green and digital transitions, the objective is to design and implement co-funded programmes that generate deep tech breakthroughs, regional synergies, and knowledge co-investments.
As an academic and expert in network science, smart specialisation, and innovation policy, I am equipped to support the mapping, design, and coordination of interregional innovation projects, with an emphasis on ecosystem connectivity and system-level learning.
What I Can Offer
1. Designing Interconnected Innovation Landscapes
Apply multilayer network analysis to connect actors (academia, industry, public sector, civil society) across innovation valleys.
Visualise regional complementarities and technological strengths for better portfolio alignment.
Support identification of cross-border synergies and bottlenecks in emerging value chains.
Contribution Example: Co-lead a WP on ecosystem mapping and foresight to guide the development of joint Annual Work Programmes and interregional projects.
2. Smart Specialisation and Policy Coherence
Support alignment of joint innovation activities with regional S3 priorities.
Assess overlaps, gaps, and leverage points among participating regions.
Design participatory roadmaps that enable horizontal and vertical integration of innovation assets.
Contribution Example: Facilitate the articulation of mission-oriented strategies and KPIs for long-term regional innovation collaboration.
3. Scenario Modeling and Capacity Building
Use agent-based and system dynamics modeling to simulate interregional policy experiments.
Identify risks, spillovers, and resilience factors in innovation co-investments.
Design interactive training and learning platforms for public authorities, SMEs, and intermediaries.
Contribution Example: Develop a digital simulation toolkit for scenario planning and project scaling across regional innovation valleys.
Why Me?
🧠 Interdisciplinary profile combining academic expertise and policy engagement.
🕸️ Proven experience in modeling innovation flows, ecosystem design, and institutional learning.
🔍 Skilled in RSiena, SNA, ABM, and Smart Specialisation data platforms.
🤝 Experienced collaborator in EU projects, public-private partnerships, and regional policy advising.
If your proposal is shaping up for this call, I’m available to contribute as a Work Package Leader, co-investigator, or strategic advisor.