Smart specialisation as a process tool in lower-tier territories: Insights from three Danish case studies

The paper focuses on the potential of combining the smart specialization – and the associated quadruple helix – framework with a place-specific planning perspective in proposing as process tool for organizing business development in small and medium-sized non-urban, lower-tier territories. The analysis is based on the study of three Danish cases that are unconventional in a smart specialization context, because R&D and technology is not necessarily at the core of the development processes. Thus, the cases are in accordance with Arnkil et al. (2010) in illustrating that extending the triple helix to a quadruple helix enables a larger variety of innovations - including innovations based on user knowledge rather than technology and/or research based knowledge. The paper illustrates how smart specialization can be executed in practice in local communities and how the involvement of different types of actors with complementary approaches and competences can mobilize a common engagement and thereby the necessary critical mass that might otherwise be a challenge in less densely populated territories.