National Resilience and Smart Specialisation RIS3: Higher Education Institutions as Centres of Excellence in Ireland and the Netherlands

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a pivotal role in driving regional innovation, as evidenced by European funding initiatives such as the EIT HEI Initiative. This paper examines and compares the Regional Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) of Ireland and the Netherlands, exploring how their divergent approaches affect regional development and resilience. Using a systematic review methodology, the study analyses academic literature, government reports, and EU publications related to RIS3 implementation in both countries. Findings reveal that while the Netherlands employs a decentralised model with strong regional autonomy and governance, Ireland implements a centralised national approach with limited regional specificity, contributing to significant regional polarisation. The Netherlands demonstrates superior performance in circular economy initiatives, deep tech innovation, and sustainable development through its regionally specialised strategies. The paper concludes that Ireland’s path to economic resilience requires substantial infrastructure investment and a more regionally tailored approach to smart specialisation, with HEIs serving as crucial catalysts within the Triple Helix model. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of RIS3 implementation and provides practical implications for policy development in peripheral EU regions.