Regional Benchmarking

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Regional Development Strategic Policy Tools
MLP FINAL CONFERENCE Luis Iurcovich, Coach -
Working Group Bruxelles, October 13rd 2006
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Tools for better Regional Innovation Policy
Blueprint for Regional Innovation Benchmarking
The Mutual Learning Platform (MLP) is a mechanism
for interactive learning by regional
authorities and interested public and private
organisations in European regions. Within this
framework, a set of tools taking the form of
guides have been developed. The guides will
help regional policy makers develop better
activities to build their regions'
competitiveness. The Blueprint addresses the key
reasons for inadequate employment of regional
benchmarking. The Blueprint documents experiences
and no-nonsense advice from practitioners for
practitioners in a need-oriented way
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Different subjects
I. How to create composite indicators for each
benchmarking theme
II. How to select data collection method and
collect relevant data
III. Primary and secondary data What are the
differences
IV. How to select against whom to benchmark
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how to create composite indicators for each
benchmarking theme
What is a composite indicator? Composite
indicators can be used to summarise complex or
multi-dimensional issues, in view of supporting
decision-makers.

• Choosing your composite indicator
• The quality of a composite indicator is in its
  fitness or function to purpose.
• We would add that, however good the scientific
  basis for a given composite indicator, its
  acceptance relies on negotiation.
• Weights
• Uncertainty Sensitivity Analysis
• Transparency

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how to select data collection method and
collect relevant data

• Defining the data collection criteria
• Relevance
• Accessibility and clarity
• Coherence
• Comparability
• Accuracy
• Timeless and punctuality
• Transferability

• Defining the data collection methods
• Interviewing
• Group-based
• Observation
• Existing documentation
• Surveys
• (Cognitive Analysis)
• The cognitive approach increases the
• explanatory power of economics by
• providing it with a more realistic
• interpretation based on the psychological
• setting of the organizations. It allows to
• compare similar decisions taken in

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how to select those against whom to benchmark
Setting up comparable data sets Another
problem that has to be taken into consideration
is the setting up of internationally/trans
regional comparable data sets and the
harmonization of data as well. The first step
in benchmarking project is to decide what will be
benchmarked.

• Classifications of benchmarking
• (Internal Benchmarking)
• Comparison of performance of units or
• departments within one organization.
• Comparison can also be made of similar
• products or services of similar business
• units.
• (Competitive Benchmarking)
• Comparison of performance is made with
• direct product competitor. In this case,
• comparison can be made of products or
• services and business processes.
• (Functional Benchmarking)
• Comparison with best business practises
• in two or more organizations in the same
• industry

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RLIS Past, Present and Future
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Good practice RNSII and TRENDS RLIS 2006
Leading regions
Best performer
2006 Regional National Summary Innovation Index
Catching up regions
Losing ground
Average growth rate of RNSII
Notes Dotted lines show Italian regions mean
performance. The circles identify the four main
Italian regions groupings.
Source The Region Lazio Innovation Scoreboard
(RLIS 2006) - FILAS
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Good practice Territorial Dynamics RLIS 2006
2006 Regional National Summary Innovation Index
Annual rate change
Source The Region Lazio Innovation Scoreboard
(RLIS 2006) - FILAS
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Compiling Creativity Index
Compiling Creativity Index LAZIO
Source The Region Lazio Innovation Scoreboard
(RLIS 2005) - FILAS
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Creativity Index 2005
Based on R. Florida methodology a Creativity
Index was calculated for Italian Regions
Source The Region Lazio Innovation Scoreboard
(RLIS 2005) - FILAS
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The impact of RLIS in the local policies

• The Operational Programme for Regional Innovation
  Strategy (2005)
• The Financial and Development Lazio Regional
  Programme (2006-2008)
• New Cohesion Regional Policy Framework (2007-2013)

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Thank you!
Luis Iurcovich FILAS www.osservatoriofilas.it luis
iurcovich_at_trasversale.com