Regional Study Report (RSR) SYNERGY Project – Mapping and Analysis of Synergies
ART-ER
Start Date: February 2026
Status: Complete
The study is part of the SYNERGY Project and focuses on the mapping and analysis of funding synergies within the Emilia-Romagna regional innovation ecosystem. It examines the role of the 2021–2027 Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) and analyses how different funding instruments can operate in a complementary way to support research, innovation and regional development.
The Emilia-Romagna S3 provides the main strategic framework for research and innovation in the region and is linked with relevant strategic documents at regional level like the Pact for Work and Climate, the Regional Strategic Document 2021–2027 etc, while also connecting regional priorities with EU and international frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda, Cohesion Policy, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and NextGenerationEU/NRRP.
The study mapped actual and potential synergies between funding instruments supporting research, innovation and S3 implementation in the Emilia-Romagna. It also analysed complementarities set out in programme documents and collected the views of regional stakeholders on the main barriers, risks, opportunities and enabling conditions for stronger synergy creation.
The work involved desk research, analysis of the European, national and regional policy framework, mapping and classification of funded initiatives, and analysis of the Joint Questionnaire Survey which involved relevant project stakeholders from universities, research centres, public authorities, Clust-ER associations and local health authorities in Emilia-Romagna.
The analysis identified projects with actual funding synergies and examined a broader portfolio of over 5,000 projects with potential complementarities between instruments. It also provided an in-depth analysis of the main barriers to stronger synergy creation, including regulatory, financial, institutional, capacity-related, legal, infrastructure-related, coordination-related and data/interoperability barriers. The findings also identified opportunities to strengthen alignment between ERDF innovation investments, ESF+ skills measures, Horizon Europe research activities and ERDF/NRRP deployment instruments, and to improve strategic and operational coordination across programmes.
The main deliverable was the Regional Study Report on the Emilia-Romagna regional innovation ecosystem and funding synergies, accompanied by the completed Transnational Mapping Exercise annex. The study has not been published.
The service was coordinated by t33 expert Anda Iacob.
Analysis of the reliability of target setting in 2021-27 for a selection of indicators under SO 2.1 “Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions” (European Regional Development Fund/Cohesion Fund)
