Competitiveness
"Globalisation and technological change mean that regions and localities need the tools and incentives to build on their indigenous assets so that they can respond quickly to changing economic circumstances if they are to increase prosperity". Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration.
Enhancing the competitiveness of regions and of businesses lies at the heart of economic development strategies within both the UK and the EU. Yet the challenge remains on how to deliver this.
Regions are increasingly the engines of the global economy. At the heart of successful regions are competitive firms. But competitiveness is more than just a strong economy - it is also about the distribution of the benefits of economic success.
ECOTEC can help you:
- Assess the strengths of the business base in the area;
- Understand the strength of the region's capacity for R&D and innovation, and how this can be improved;
- Understand how skills and expertise can promote competitiveness;
- Analyse the strengths of your region and compare it with others;
- Develop evidence-based strategies for promoting competitiveness;
- Develop practical bids for funding from national and European initiatives;
- Support the implementation of programmes and policies.
- Assess the impact of policies, interventions and future trends - through application of the REMI-ECOTEC Model
ECOTEC acts at the interface between firms and regional governance. We advise on interventions that might support the development of a competitive firm base in order to promote a sustainable higher standard of living across the region.
We operate at all policy-making levels, so our key local knowledge is informed by a deep understanding of European, national and regional priorities.
We can deliver the full range of our services in any of our regions in this theme.
Theme Portfolio: International Benchmarking of North East England
ECOTEC undertook an assignment to develop a methodology for identification of international comparator areas and availability of key indicator data to allow global benchmarking of the North East region. An international approach to benchmarking and performance monitoring reflects the impact and importance of globalisation: there is much greater relevance in viewing the North East's performance in global terms above and beyond the purely domestic or European.
Our approach to the process of selecting an appropriate grouping of international comparators involved a sequential process of primary filtering, spatial configuration, establishing typology, and application of policy considerations, together with a partner workshop to refine and agree final comparator selection. Indicator selection reflected a holistic view of 'competitiveness', with close consideration to issues of data coverage, completeness, and comparability.
This study showcased the considerable benefits of adopting international benchmarking as a powerful analytical and policy development tool. Regional partners can benefit from having robust and independent data and analysis – including clear baselines (and aspirations). Moreover, international benchmarking can identify and highlight possible futures already emerging elsewhere, and how inter-regional comparisons of performance, processes and practices may best be harnessed in order to improve regional development.
chris.whitfield.com@ecotec.com
+44 121 616 36 00
Other projects in this Portfolio
