Find underneath a short résumé of the key tools and phases of the toolbox:

PHASE 1: START UP
1. Cluster Mapping
2. Network Analysis
3. Interview Templates

PHASE II: DESIGN
1. Checklist
2. Indicator Plan
3. Regional Innovation Plan

PHASE III: IMPLEMENTAION

PHASE IV: REVIEW
1. Indicators
2. DEA-model
3. Review

PAHSE 1: Starting the Process, Deployment of Tools

1. Cluster Mapping:
The purpose of the Cluster Mapping Tool is to identify clusters in a specific region based on Michael Porter’s clusters. The Cluster Mapping Tool has been developed to assess both the performance and impact of innovation policies, and to analyse your region by using employment data to identify industrial clusters.

The achievements of cluster mapping should be:
- the identification of a number of potential clusters in the region;
- a distinction between the clusters that are thought to be important or present in the region (wishful thinking –clusters) and those that actually exist and can have a real impact on the regional economy;
- the creation of awareness of potential policy hotspot –industries;
the creation of knowledge of the regional business landscape.

2. Network Analysis:
The purpose of the network analysis is to see whether the clusters discovered through use of the Cluster Mapping Tool are working or not, and how effectively they are exploiting their potential. The MERIPA Network Analysis Tool uses qualitative methods in order to understand the dynamics of the cluster, meaning that face-to-face interviews are carried out with representatives and key actors of the clusters to obtain the crucial information. Are the companies that constitute the cluster actually collaborating or not? Clusters cannot benefit the region if their cluster potential goes unnoticed, unsupported or undeveloped.

3. Interview Templates:
To understand the needs of the regional innovation system, interviews are held to gather information from all the parties that make up the innovation system.
The idea of the interviews is to get the best possible picture of the "innovation landscape" in the region, both now and in the future, and to be able to provide input on what goals the policy should pursue in order to be successful.
The interview results are then used to formulate a free-form roadmap that states the region’s current status as an innovation system, the goals of the new regional innovation policy and how to pursue these objectives, including alternative adjustments for possible course-changing future events.

PHASE II: Constructing the Regional Innovation Plan

1. Checklist:
The Checklist is your chance to pause and confirm you have all you need to go ahead and start designing your regional innovation policy. It lists the most central tasks that need to be accomplished before setting out on the design phase.

2. Indicator Plan:
The indicator plan tool is used to make you familiar with indicators and statistical data that you need to evaluate the impact of your innovation policy. You should thus understand the various ways in which you can measure the innovation performance of your region.

3. Regional Innovation Plan:
After drawing up a list of priorities for innovation activities in your region, this tool should help you to create a detailed and realistic strategy for innovation activities that is tailored to the specific needs and conditions in your region. It shows you how to turn your information about the region into a list of priorities, and then to write up your priorities as a set of achievable actions.

PAHSE III – Implementing the Plan

PHASE IV – Reviewing, Measuring and Restarting

1. Indicators:
Five composite measures allow you to distinguish different kinds of impact that a public policy can have on regional innovation performance. First, the Regional Summary Innovation Index (RSII) considers basic dimensions of innovation and relates regional performances to both national and European averages, showing general, positive or negative, impact of public interventions on innovation. The Regional Innovation Capability Index (RICI) combined with the RSII can give a clear account of overall effects of public policies. In addition, three other measures are presented to evaluate absolute capacity to cultivate innovation, relative solidity of the channels of innovation and ability to foster excellence in innovation.

The achievement of the reviewing should be:
- a quantified evaluation of your region’s general innovation performance, capacity, incubation capability, channel functionality and excellence;
- an understanding of the areas where your region is performing well and where there still is room for improvement;
- an understanding of how to improve the innovation capacity of your region.

2. DEA-model:
The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is a tool that enables the transnational ranking and benchmarking of a large set of regional innovation policies on the basis of impact and relative efficiency.
The achievement of the DEA-model tool should be:
- Finding out your relative efficiency score in comparison with numerous other European regional innovation policies;
- Seeking a suitable benchmark that shares roughly similar characteristics to those of your own region providing a best practise case, from which you have a chance to learn;
- Establishing your place in the ranking list of European regions.

3. Review:
Reviewing your policy aims at enabling learning, establishing best practices, validating results, providing control, communicating the success (or lack of) of policies and the reasons behind it. The actions taken are twofold and best described by asking two questions “Did you do the right things?” (Project review) and “Did you do it right?” (Process review). Determining the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of your work and the reasons behind them initiate a phase of intense learning that deepens policy understanding and policy making skill.

The whole booklet can be downloaded under:
http://www.innovating-regions.org/ireservices/pub_library/index.cfm?level=3&name1=AJG&cat_id=674&navbar=true