Assessing Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS3) Through Competitive Public Project Networks: The Case of Aragón 2014–2020

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Aragón’s Regional Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3) 2014–2020 by applying Social Network Analysis (SNA) to a comprehensive dataset of regional, national, and European competitive public projects involving Aragonese entities between 2014 and 2023. The analysis explores how collaborative structures—weighted by funding amounts—impact knowledge transfer, stakeholder participation, and strategic alignment within Aragón’s innovation ecosystem. Findings reveal a significant concentration of funding in European projects (86% of total ecosystem investment), contrasted with varying degrees of local and national involvement. Cohesion metrics show the high connectivity and closure of the European network, whereas regional calls, though exhibiting tighter density, remain comparatively fragmented and reliant on public research centres and universities. Centrality measures identify key bridging institutions, which facilitate advanced knowledge diffusion but also expose potential over-dependence on a small subset of actors. The analysis results highlight the value of integrating SNA metrics into RIS3 evaluations to better capture how resources, governance mechanisms, and institutional pressures interact. By offering a data-driven methodology that can be monitored continuously and policy recommendations, it aims to guide Aragón and other regions in refining their regional innovation strategies towards more inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive ecosystems.