Does Smart Specialisation improve any innovation subsidy effect on regional productivity? The Portuguese case

Smart Specialisation is a place-based approach to innovation policy that underpins significant amount of European Union funding. Following more than six years implementation, this paper contributes the evaluation based on case Portugal. This done using country’s main instrument support corporate Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) was launched in 2007 adapted accommodate 2014. Using aggregate data at NUTS 3 level from 2008 2018 spatial econometric analysis, results display positive effect regional productivity RDI subsidies over two programming periods under analysis (2007 2013 2014 2020), higher return second period, suggesting able generate an additional effect. We also found has only been when Research & funding combined with other types subsidies.